France will deploy around 70,000 police officers and gendarmes across the country today (24 October), while the Louvre and several other major Paris museums will remain closed as authorities prepare for fresh protests and seek to prevent a repeat of last week's violence.
The previous demonstrations descended into chaos, with protesters setting fires, storming public buildings, smashing shop windows, looting businesses and clashing with police in some of France's worst unrest in years.
Demonstrators are planning to take to the streets again today to protest against the rising cost of living. Students, members of the CGT labour union and activists from the "yellow vest" movement, whose demonstrations against social inequality rocked France in 2018 and 2019, are expected to participate.
Authorities have banned some demonstrations on security grounds in several cities, including Lyon, Nice and Montpellier. However, marches are expected in many other locations, including Paris and Marseille.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said approximately 70,000 police officers and gendarmes would be mobilised, supported by helicopters, armoured vehicles and water cannons. Elite police units will also help protect public buildings, including city halls, as part of what he described as a highly mobile security operation.
"There have been numerous calls from radical far-left groups on social media to commit acts of violence and vandalism. There have also been renewed calls for looting, with those messages clearly being spread by rioters," Nuñez said at a news conference.
"We will be absolutely uncompromising" with those involved in violence, he added, warning that police would take a firm approach to arrests and that offenders would face legal consequences.
Major Paris museums to shut their doors
France's Culture Ministry told The Associated Press that the Louvre, Orsay and Picasso museums, along with the Grand Palais, would be closed on Saturday.
The ministry urged all institutions under its authority to take the necessary precautions to protect visitors, staff members and artworks, according to its statement.
Art Basel Paris, one of the world's leading contemporary art fairs, opened to the public on Friday after two days of invitation-only access. However, organisers cancelled its weekend programme because of concerns over possible unrest.
The fair features exhibitions by 211 international galleries at the Grand Palais in Paris.
"This decision has not been taken lightly, and the safety of everyone involved in the fair remains our utmost priority," organisers said in a statement on Thursday.
Indian art collector Saloni Doshi, who travelled to Paris for the event, said she became concerned last Saturday after witnessing fires and panicked crowds. Friends also called her to ask whether Paris was safe.
She said she understood the organisers' decision to close the fair.
Antoine Donzeaud and Elisa Rigoulet, owners of the exo exo gallery, expressed similar views.
"We understand this decision, which we consider reasonable and consistent with the urgency of the social demands currently unfolding in France," they said in a text message.
However, the cancellation disappointed some visitors.
"It's very sad, because we just came here to the fair, and we could not get in because they cancelled it for the weekend," said Fabián Hernández, 32, who travelled from Mexico City.
He said Friday's event was particularly crowded and expressed disappointment at missing the fair, which he enjoys visiting.
Anti-far-right demonstration planned
Authorities will also closely monitor a demonstration scheduled for Saturday in Orléans, about 110 kilometres (70 miles) south of Paris.
Around 50 organisations have called for a protest against the far right alongside a two-day congress of Marine Le Pen's nationalist, anti-immigration party, which is preparing for next spring's presidential election.
The protest is being organised by labour unions, left-wing political parties, student groups and anti-racism organisations.
Hugues Moutouh, prefect of the Loiret region, said authorities expected between 20,000 and 30,000 demonstrators from across France to attend.
Le Pen, whose opinion polls place her at the front of the field for next year's presidential election, accused left-wing organisations and political parties of attempting to "disrupt a political party's democratic congress" in an interview with broadcaster Franceinfo.
Nevertheless, she said she had no security concerns, arguing that the government had acknowledged the need for measures to ensure the congress could proceed safely