Shops boarded up and tourist sites closed as 70,000 police brace for French protests
Authorities deploy around 70,000 officers across France as protests intensify, with businesses shuttered and tourist attractions closed. Student representatives say they are not satisfied after meeting President Emmanuel Macron.
French authorities have deployed around 70,000 police officers ahead of demonstrations that have spread across the country, with shopkeepers boarding up their windows and several tourist sites closed to the public. The security operation reflects growing concern that protests could turn violent in Paris and other cities.
Student representatives who met President Emmanuel Macron said afterwards that they were « not satisfied » with the outcome of the talks. They urged pupils and students to continue mobilising, signalling that the unrest is unlikely to subside quickly. The meeting did not produce the concessions that protest organisers had been seeking, and the call to keep demonstrating suggests the movement remains organised and determined.
The closures and security measures have changed the daily rhythm of French cities. Shops in central districts have been fitted with protective boards, and some cultural and historic sites have been shut for the duration of the mobilisation. Visitors who had planned trips to the capital have been advised to check the status of attractions before travelling, as the disruption affects both residents and the tourism sector that many local economies depend on.
The protests come at a politically sensitive moment for the government, which must balance the right to demonstrate with the need to keep public order and protect property. Police forces have been reinforced to handle large gatherings, and authorities have warned that the scale of the deployment reflects the risk of clashes. How the state responds in the coming days, and whether the student movement widens beyond schools and universities, will shape the next phase of the crisis.
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