135 arrested as cost-of-living protests resume across France

Authorities deploy heavy security after last weekend's violence, as hard-right National Rally holds congress in Orléans

By LineZotpaper AI staff

Published24 October 2026

Updated24 October 2026

Read Time2 min

Sources4 outlets

Fresh cost-of-living protests swept France on Saturday, with Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez reporting 135 arrests as of 1 pm, as the government scrambled to prevent a repeat of the widespread violence that marked demonstrations the previous weekend.

Police deployed in force across multiple cities on Saturday, with riot officers firing tear gas in Lyon to break up a gathering of about 150 protesters attempting to block a road near the city centre, where demonstration restrictions were in place. A 21-year-old student at the protest told AFP: "The police are really mobile. They come and disperse marches before they even form."

The heavy security response follows mass protests last Saturday that saw buildings and vehicles set alight, masked individuals smashing shop windows and looting stores, and continued unrest in Paris on Sunday with flaming barricades and police charges. Many businesses have boarded up windows or closed for the day.

Tensions are also high around the hard-right National Rally party's congress in Orléans this weekend, where Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella are scheduled to speak. The event has drawn both supporters and counterprotesters, raising fears of clashes. Police said they had stationed forces at various arrival points and throughout the city, carrying out checks and seizing items "intended for use in acts of violence or to create a hostile atmosphere" in locations including Orléans, Pau, Rennes, Marseille and Tours.

A last-minute change to the route of a planned Paris protest has drawn criticism from unions and left-wing politicians, who argue the move could scatter demonstrators and fuel further chaos. Police had initially approved a march between Bastille and Nation squares but overturned the decision on Friday, proposing instead a route between Porte d'Italie and Porte de Vincennes along the city's southeastern edge.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The protests highlight deep public frustration over rising living costs in France, a challenge that has fuelled social unrest across Europe.
The government's security response, including last-minute route changes and heavy police presence, risks further inflaming tensions if protesters feel their right to demonstrate is being curtailed.
The convergence of the National Rally congress with the protest movement adds a political dimension, with potential for far-right supporters and counterprotesters to clash.

Background

France has seen periodic waves of protest over cost-of-living pressures, pension reform and other economic grievances. The previous weekend's demonstrations turned violent in several cities, with masked individuals setting fires and looting. In response, the government has sought to tighten controls on protests while also facing criticism from the left for restricting democratic rights. The National Rally, led by Marine Le Pen, has positioned itself as a voice for those struggling with inflation, and its congress this weekend provides a platform for its leadership to address supporters.

Key Perspectives

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez: said 135 people had been arrested across France as of 1 pm on Saturday, and police operations were focused on preventing violence. 21-year-old student protester (AFP): described police as highly mobile, dispersing marches before they formed, suggesting a proactive crackdown. Unions and left-wing politicians: criticised the last-minute route change for a Paris protest, arguing it could scatter demonstrators and fuel further chaos.

What to Watch

Whether the National Rally congress in Orléans sees clashes between supporters and counterprotesters over the weekend.
The scale of violence in Saturday's protests compared to the previous weekend, a measure of whether the government's security measures are effective or escalating tensions.
Any further restrictions on demonstrations and the response from unions and political parties on the left.

Sources

France on Edge as New Protests Raise Fears of More Violence · Bloomberg
French protests see fewer early incidents as tighter policing draws criticism · Politico Europe
France protests live: 135 arrested as marches held under tight security · Al Jazeera
135 arrested as new round of protests gets underway in France · Euronews

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 9 supported.

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Partly supported135 people were arrested as cost-of-living protests resumed across France.Euronews: “Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said 135 people had been arrested across France as of 1 pm on Saturday.”
SupportedAuthorities deployed heavy security after last weekend’s violence.Euronews: “The French government has ramped up security operations this weekend”
SupportedThe hard-right National Rally is holding its congress in Orléans this weekend.Euronews: “authorities are also keeping a close watch over the hard-right National Rally party's congress in Orléans this weekend.”
SupportedInterior Minister Laurent Nuñez reported 135 arrests across France as of 1 pm on Saturday.Euronews: “Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said 135 people had been arrested across France as of 1 pm on Saturday.”
SupportedA 21-year-old student at the protest told AFP, “The police are really mobile. They come and disperse marches before they even form.”Euronews: ““The police are really mobile. They come and disperse marches before they even form,” a 21-year-old student at the protest told the AFP news agency.”
Partly supportedRiot officers fired tear gas in Lyon to break up a gathering.Euronews: “In Lyon, riot police once again filled the streets and reportedly fired tear gas to break up a gathering of around 150 protesters”
SupportedThe Lyon gathering involved about 150 protesters attempting to block a road near the city centre.Euronews: “a gathering of around 150 protesters who attempted to block a road near the city centre”
SupportedLast Saturday’s mass protests saw buildings and vehicles set alight.Euronews: “Mass protests last Saturday saw widespread violence and clashes with police in several cities, with buildings and vehicles set alight”
Partly supportedPolice had stationed forces throughout Orléans.Euronews: “Police say they have forces stationed across various arrival points into the city and throughout the centre”
SupportedMarine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella are scheduled to speak at the congress.Euronews: “The event, which will see both Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella speak”
SupportedUnions and left-wing politicians criticised the Paris protest route change, arguing it could scatter demonstrators and fuel further chaos.Euronews: “A last-minute route change to a planned Paris protest has prompted pushback from unions and politicians on the left in France, who have argued that the move could scatter demonstrators and fuel further chaos.”
SupportedPolice overturned the approved Bastille-to-Nation route on Friday and proposed a route from Porte d’Italie to Porte de Vincennes.Euronews: “Police had initially approved a march between Bastille and Nation squares in the east of the capital but overturned the decision on Friday, instead proposing a route between Porte d’Italie and Porte de Vincennes”