France braces for Halloween protests as 70,000 police and gendarmes deploy

Summary

France was bracing on Saturday, Halloween, for a third consecutive weekend of protests, with shops boarding up storefronts while authorities worked to prevent a repeat of the street violence that swept the country on October 17. Student groups and Yellow Vest activists are demonstrating against poor conditions in schools and the rising cost of living, and the protests have broadened to include demands for greater civil liberties and the right to protest. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said 70,000 police officers and gendarmes would be deployed across France that day. A march between the République and Bastille squares has been banned, and France 24 reports that Paris police have authorised a demonstration only on the capital's outskirts and that curfews have been imposed in parts of Paris. Thousands of people, potentially in masks and costumes, are expected on the streets, and authorities are concerned that rioters could use the holiday to disguise themselves. The demonstrations come six months before presidential elections.

Timeline

1. France 24

   31 Oct 2026, 07:40 UTCSource ↗

   France 24 reports that France on Saturday braced for a third weekend of protests coinciding with Halloween, as shops boarded up and authorities scrambled to prevent a repeat of the street violence that swept the country two weeks earlier.

2. RFI

   31 Oct 2026, 08:34 UTCSource ↗

   RFI reports that student groups and Yellow Vest activists were set for a third consecutive weekend of demonstrations against poor conditions in schools and the rising cost of living, and that Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said 70,000 police officers and gendarmes would be deployed across France on Saturday.

3. The New York Times

   31 Oct 2026, 09:05 UTCSource ↗

   The New York Times reports that thousands of people, potentially in masks and costumes, were expected on the streets on Saturday, prompting authorities to prepare another vast security response.

4. The Times of Israel

   31 Oct 2026, 10:31 UTCSource ↗

   The Times of Israel reports that 70,000 police were deployed for nationwide protests, that authorities were concerned rioters might disguise themselves over Halloween, and that a march between the République and Bastille squares was banned.

5. France 24

   31 Oct 2026, 11:13 UTCSource ↗

   France 24 reports that France was preparing for a third weekend of protests, with 70,000 security personnel deployed to prevent a repeat of the violence seen on October 17, and that authorities had restricted demonstrations in several cities ahead of presidential elections six months away.

6. France 24

   31 Oct 2026, 11:15 UTCSource ↗

   France 24 reports that Interior Minister Nunez warns of high risk during the protests, that around 70,000 security personnel were deployed, that Paris police authorised a demonstration only on the capital's outskirts, and that curfews had been imposed in parts of Paris.