French authorities brace for more unrest as minister warns Halloween protests could turn violent

Summary

French authorities are bracing for more street unrest next weekend, despite a huge security operation that helped contain nationwide demonstrations on Saturday, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said on Monday, and he warned that the Halloween protests could turn violent. The protests, driven by widespread anger over the rising cost of living, have been marred by violence: nationwide demonstrations on October 17 degenerated into some of the country's worst rioting in years, engulfing dozens of cities. On Monday the government sought to draw a line under weeks of unrest, and President Emmanuel Macron ruled out a state of emergency, for now, as he headed to Marseille. The protests show little sign of easing.

Timeline

1. Straits Times

   26 Oct 2026, 11:00 UTCSource ↗

   The Straits Times reports that French authorities are bracing for more street unrest next weekend despite a huge security operation that helped contain nationwide demonstrations on Saturday, and that Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said on Monday the Halloween protests could turn violent.

2. France 24

   26 Oct 2026, 16:16 UTCSource ↗

   France 24 reports that the French government sought to draw a line under weeks of violence-marred protests on Monday, that President Emmanuel Macron ruled out a state of emergency for now as he headed to Marseille, and that the unrest follows widespread anger over the rising cost of living, with October 17 demonstrations degenerating into some of the country's worst rioting in years.