France's Price Uprising: 70,000 Officers Guard Streets as 135 Arrested

French police detained 135 people on Saturday while deploying up to 70,000 officers to major cities. The security force included helicopters, armored vehicles, and water cannons. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez stated that authorities aimed to prevent a repeat of the previous weekend's chaos. He added that no major incident had occurred yet.

The demonstrations continue a nationwide movement against high living costs. More than half a million people protested the prior week. Authorities banned marches in Lyon but deployed tear gas when about 150 demonstrators blocked a road near the center. A 21-year-old student described the police as really mobile, noting that officers disperse marches before they fully form.

In Orleans, thousands of people marched against a congress hosted by Marine Le Pen's National Rally party. Le Pen is launching her presidential bid to succeed Emmanuel Macron. Surveys indicate she is best positioned to win the election, which is six months away. Protesters chanted for Macron to resign and for Le Pen to go to prison. Police counted 11,000 participants, while organizers claimed 26,000 attended. The march ended peacefully in the early afternoon.

Paris authorities moved the city's only authorized march from the Bastille to the Porte d'Italie in the southeast. Union organizers accepted the change reluctantly. Murielle Guilbert, a union representative, called the decision scandalous because it barred protesters from their preferred location. She noted that wages have not risen to the level they should. A student named Lucas told CBS Morning that it is normal for people to be angry.

The unrest has disrupted daily life in the capital. Major museums remain closed, and many businesses have boarded up their windows. Art Basel opened for one day only on Friday, cancelling its weekend program. The first NFL game in France between the New Orleans Saints and another team remains scheduled for Sunday. A soccer match between Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique Lyonnais has moved from Sunday to Monday night.

The protests began last month when high school students in southeast Paris demanded better conditions. The movement widened as people sought relief from rising costs. The Yellow Vests, a group that emerged eight years ago to protest against Macron, plan more demonstrations on October 31. They intend to hold rallies and a sit-in outside parliament and city halls.

Unrest has also affected other parts of Europe. Italy sent additional soldiers to Milan after looting and clashes. Premier Giorgia Meloni announced tougher penalties for minors, who police said made up much of the violent crowd. In Tirana, Albania, riot police used water cannons on student protesters demanding lower tuition. Thousands of retirees marched in Madrid over pensions, and a housing protest was expected in Lisbon.

Police in France seized a range of items during the arrests. The list includes metal balls, lead pellets, fireworks, slingshots, steel balls, improvised weapons, a katana, and airsoft weapons. Around 3,000 shops across France were damaged or looted last weekend.