French police have arrested 135 people as tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets across the country, amid growing public anger over inequality, government policies and restrictions on protests.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez announced the arrests as demonstrations resumed in more than 100 locations on Saturday, with authorities deploying additional security personnel to prevent a repeat of the violence that marred protests the previous weekend.
According to the BBC, Nuñez said police had recorded 136 protests by Saturday morning, compared with 264 at the same time the previous week. About 35,000 demonstrators had been counted by early afternoon, against 60,000 recorded during the corresponding period last Saturday.
The demonstrations come after widespread rioting, looting and vandalism affected businesses and public infrastructure across France.
More than 2,700 people have been arrested since the unrest began, while curfews, closures and restrictions on demonstrations have been introduced in several cities.
In Paris, authorities permitted a march along a designated route from Porte d’Italie to Porte de Vincennes after police cleared Place de la Bastille and redirected protesters. Police said the operation was intended to allow the authorised demonstration to proceed safely.
Despite the restrictions, demonstrators gathered in major cities, including Paris, Lyon, Nantes, Bordeaux and Strasbourg. Protesters carried placards, waved flags and chanted slogans critical of the government and police. In Nantes, police deployed tear gas and water cannon after demonstrators allegedly attempted to breach a restricted perimeter around an unauthorised gathering.
Student protesters said the movement had expanded beyond its original demands, with freedom of expression and the right to demonstrate becoming central concerns.
“We’re now protesting for our right to protest,” student demonstrator Julian-Gabriel Dare told the broadcaster, adding that the movement was also about the freedom to express opinions publicly.
Other demonstrators voiced concerns about economic inequality and what they described as the failure of political leaders to address citizens’ grievances. A 38-year-old graphic designer, identified as Louise, told the BBC that the gap between rich and poor had widened and warned that images of looting could overshadow the peaceful protesters’ demands.
The unrest has also intensified debate about public confidence in France’s political establishment. BBC Europe editor Katya Adler noted that many voters, particularly younger people, were increasingly frustrated by issues including climate change, social inequality, housing costs and uncertainty over employment prospects.
However, the protests have exposed a difficult balance for the authorities: protecting the public and preventing violence while respecting citizens’ right to peaceful assembly.
Although police described the situation in Paris as calm during the authorised march, reports of clashes and the deployment of crowd-control measures elsewhere highlighted the continuing tensions.
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