Demonstrations on 31 October: 70,000 police and gendarmes mobilized for Act 3 (and Halloween)

French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced on Thursday that approximately 70,000 police officers and gendarmes will be deployed nationwide for the third act of social mobilization scheduled for Saturday, October 31. The minister described the upcoming day as presenting a "very high risk" of public disorder, citing a convergence of planned demonstrations and Halloween festivities. He characterized the security arrangement as "exceptional," noting that it matches the scale of operations conducted during the previous round of protests on October 24. Nuñez stated that while assemblies remain legal, they will be prohibited in city centers due to the elevated threat of public disturbance. Demonstrators will be directed toward peripheral zones. To secure authorization for these gatherings, organizers must guarantee the presence of an order service capable of managing potential incidents and ensuring the events proceed correctly. The minister warned that the intent to commit vandalism persists and declared that authorities will tolerate no excesses, promising an "extreme firmness" in their response. The security force includes all available mobile units and specialized services such as the BRI, RAID, and GIGN. The deployment also features drones, helicopters, mounted brigades, canine units, and 26 Centaure armored vehicles operated by the gendarmerie. Nuñez noted that this volume of personnel is identical to that used on October 24, although some forces had previously been diverted to secure the National Rally congress in Orléans. He mentioned having recalled officers from leave to meet this demand. According to a new balance sheet released by the minister, 1,193 police officers and gendarmes have been injured since mid-September within the context of the social and high school student movements. The interior ministry reported that the previous Saturday's protests attracted approximately 410,000 participants. However, trade union leaders placed the attendance figure at roughly double that amount. More than 2,700 individuals were arrested during the prior week of unrest. The current mobilization follows a series of nationwide protests driven by concerns over the rising cost of living. These demonstrations have occasionally devolved into large-scale looting and riots. The initial wave of unrest began on October 17, featuring vandalism and theft. Since then, authorities have implemented curfews and increased security presence to attempt to regain control. The yellow vest movement and student unions have coordinated calls for further action, including a national strike planned for November 5. Nuñez highlighted specific threats detected on social media leading up to Saturday. He identified numerous calls for gatherings in city centers and public squares under the pretext of Halloween celebrations, particularly after 8 p.m. The minister attributed these invitations to the ultra-left, radicalized extreme left factions, and certain radicalized yellow vest websites. He described the accompanying messages as encouraging revolution, insurrection, serious public disturbances, looting, and destruction. Consequently, prefects will ban these specific evening gatherings. The minister also addressed the issue of facial concealment. He warned that Halloween does not constitute a legitimate reason to mask one's identity in public spaces to facilitate public disorder. In a separate directive, Nuñez issued warnings to far-right groups that had recently clashed with left-wing protesters in approximately 15 French cities. He emphasized that the analysis of social media activity leaves no doubt regarding the intentions of actors aiming to commit new acts of violence. A telegram sent to prefects and the Paris police prefect indicated that the risk of urban violence is extremely high from early evening until late night. Youth organizations have criticized the government's approach, describing interactions with the interior minister as a "dialogue of the deaf." Despite government announcements and offers of dialogue, high school students continue to call for sustained mobilization, hoping for further concessions from the executive branch. Louis Létoublon, vice-president of the organization "Les Lycéens!", participated in discussions regarding the sufficiency of recent governmental measures. Other commentators included Catherine Tricot, director of the journal Regards, Carole Barjon, an editor at the journal Politique et parlementaire, and historian Jean Garrigues. They debated whether the current announcements adequately address the demands of the student population. The situation remains tense as authorities prepare for the weekend. The combination of traditional protest routes and holiday-related gatherings creates a complex operational environment for law enforcement. Officials maintain that the primary objective is to protect commercial districts and prevent a recurrence of the looting seen in previous weeks. The deployment of armored vehicles and water cannons, introduced during the previous cycle of unrest, will be reinforced. Police forces are instructed to enforce strict boundaries between authorized demonstration zones and restricted central areas. Trade union leaders and student representatives have framed the coming days as critical for the continuation of their campaign against economic hardship. While the government asserts that it is maintaining stability through robust operational planning, protest organizers argue that structural changes are required to end the cycle of unrest. The upcoming national strike on November 5 adds another layer of anticipated disruption. For now, attention turns to Saturday, where 70,000 uniformed personnel will monitor streets across France. The interior ministry expects the atmosphere to remain volatile, particularly in major urban centers where historical flashpoints exist. Authorities have prepared contingency plans for rapid intervention should the predicted risks materialize.