France deploys thousands of police as fourth weekend of protests hits cities

French authorities deployed tens of thousands of security personnel on Saturday as demonstrators took to the streets across the country for a fourth straight weekend of rallies driven by economic discontent.

Police forces in Paris moved quickly to block an unauthorized assembly called by the Yellow Vests movement near the presidential palace. Officials barred access around the Place de la Concorde, close to Emmanuel Macron's official residence and the lower house of parliament. Officers surrounded roughly 100 people who reached the area, taking Yellow Vests spokeswoman Azelma Sigaux and movement coordinator Benjamin Ball into custody, according to AFP.

Authorized union demonstrations proceeded along an established path across the capital, moving from Place de la Republique toward Place de la Nation. Unrest was also reported outside Paris, with law enforcement firing tear gas in central Lyon to clear an unapproved gathering of several hundred individuals blocking traffic.

Around 70,000 security personnel were positioned across France to prevent a repetition of severe riots that shook the nation on October 17. While authorities had initially prepared for as many as 170,000 participants nationwide, including 60,000 in Paris, the interior ministry recorded approximately 7,000 demonstrators by early afternoon, pointing to a decline in attendance compared to the prior week.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez warned officials to remain vigilant, stating that security threats persisted at the same level as earlier weekends.

The current protest wave started in late September, spearheaded by high school students protesting conditions at their schools before gaining backing from university students and organized labor. Demonstrators have continued rallying over high living expenses, school funding, and broader economic inequality. Sabine Kharbach, a representative for the Student Union, noted that young people are continuing to mobilize because official solutions have fallen short.

The prolonged unrest has intensified strain on French businesses, with shopkeepers along march corridors boarding up windows and shuttering stores. Retailers have expressed deep concern over sharp drops in foot traffic caused by security perimeters and recurrent weekend disruption.

At the same time, police handling of the demonstrations has drawn scrutiny. Dozens of internal inquiries have been opened into claims of excessive force, and AFP raised alarms over the safety of its staff after reporters suffered apparent mistreatment by officers while documenting the rallies.

French leaders are seeking to defuse tensions while facing fiscal constraints from high sovereign debt. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu is scheduled to hold talks with union and business leaders on Monday concerning household incomes and wages. However, education unions have already called for additional strike action on Tuesday to demand expanded funding.

The unrest unfolds five months before national presidential elections, with survey data showing far-right figure Marine Le Pen leading public preferences ahead of hard-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon.