Paris: France heightened security on Saturday ahead of a fresh round of nationwide protests coinciding with Halloween, deploying around 70,000 security personnel amid concerns that demonstrators could use festive masks to conceal their identities. Meanwhile, a youth-led movement in Germany prepared demonstrations across 34 cities over living costs, austerity and social inequality.
According to France 24, French authorities are on high alert as masks and costumes could make identifying people involved in possible violence difficult. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez warned of a “very high risk” of unrest and promised a firm response.
“Everyone is on deck to ensure an extremely firm response to any trouble,” Nunez said at a news conference earlier this week. The deployment matches the number of personnel mobilised a week earlier, as authorities seek to prevent a repeat of the violence witnessed on October 17.
Several businesses boarded up their storefronts ahead of the demonstrations. Alain Di Crescenzo, president of France’s chamber of commerce, told France Inter that shopkeepers were anxious.
“Shopkeepers can’t wait for Saturday to be over,” he said, adding that Halloween could complicate security arrangements.
Meanwhile, Germany’s initiative “Gen Z regelt” (Gen Z’s Got It) has called for demonstrations in 34 cities, including Berlin, Cologne, Hamburg and Munich.
According to DW, thousands are expected to protest against “broken schools and austerity”, rising living costs, social injustice, military conscription and climate change. Organisers have distanced themselves from violence, stating their initiative is “against all violence”.
German police said they remained “vigilant and relaxed”, while Andreas Rosskopf of the GdP union warned that authorities would respond firmly to violence and possible extremist infiltration.
France’s protests gained momentum in late September amid budget discussions, rising public debt and borrowing costs. Students, trade unions and Yellow Vest supporters have joined demonstrations over school conditions, living costs and economic pressures.
Germany’s protests reflect similar concerns over prices, school conditions, spending cuts and decisions affecting younger generations.
