France Sees Mass Arrests Amid Protests and Le Pen’s Presidential Bid
French authorities detained 1,314 people during nationwide protests on Saturday, according to a provisional Interior Ministry tally. The demonstrations, which drew 410,000 participants across 289 gatherings, were largely peaceful but saw clashes in several cities, including Paris, Marseille, and Lyon. Police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse hooded youths in the capital, while in Marseille protesters set trash cans on fire and threw objects at security forces.
The unrest was smaller than the previous weekend, when 2,628 people were arrested and 1,144 security personnel were injured. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez reported nearly 1,000 arrests on Saturday, adding that the number was expected to rise. The ministry blamed radical far-left activists for confrontations along protest routes, and noted that 53 police officers were injured, 75 fires were set, and 24 businesses were looted.
Le Pen Launches Fourth Presidential Bid
Marine Le Pen launched her fourth bid for the French presidency on Sunday, calling on “French patriots” to support her and the far-right National Rally in spring elections. Speaking in Orleans, she promised a “renaissance” of France’s virtues and criticized President Emmanuel Macron, whom she called “Little Marquis Macron.” Le Pen stressed the need to restore order and civility, saying, “we’ll protect our public spaces so that they can remain places full of life and mutual respect.”
She also praised regionalism over the European Union and defended the “French way of life,” stating, “In France, you live like the French.” Le Pen invoked General Charles de Gaulle several times and ended her speech with “Vive la France!” She was joined on stage by party president Jordan Bardella, and the campaign slogan is “Pour la France La Renaissance.”
Unions Call for More Demonstrations
French unions and protest groups have called for fresh demonstrations on October 31 and a nationwide strike on November 5. The left-wing Solidaires union federation cited anger over wages, living costs, and public services. “We see an aggregation of anger,” co-leader Murielle Guilbert told BFM TV. The Yellow Vests movement also announced rallies, including sit-ins outside town halls and the National Assembly.
The government has opened talks with unions and student representatives, but protest leaders say the proposals are inadequate. In Milan, around 3,000 people rallied against the rising cost of living, with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni deploying 500 soldiers to the city in addition to existing law enforcement. The mood in France over the past few days has been described as almost apocalyptic.
