The commotion caused by the protests and riots of last October 17 is still very present. AND with the smell of tear gas still fresh, France is preparing for a new day of mobilizations this Saturday, October 24, under a reinforced security device to prevent a second violent act. On a commercial level, the usually glamorous façade of Paris is blurred: shop windows covered with wooden planks, metal shutters and shops that have chosen to close their doors for fear of new looting.
The Minister of the Interior, Laurent Nuñezannounced the deployment of 70,000 police and gendarmes throughout the country – 10,000 more than last week – with mobile troops and specialized units such as the RAID (the elite unit of the National Police), the National Gendarmerie and the Investigation and Intervention Brigade. The device will also include helicopters, surveillance means, armored vehicles and water cannons. The objective, according to the minister, is to act quickly against groups that try to loot businesses, attack public buildings or confront law enforcement.
Controls on the streets
The Government has asked the prefects to evaluate the risks of each call and that they coordinate the itineraries of the demonstrations with the mayors. If there is a high risk of looting or destruction, the authorities may prohibit gatherings in the affected areas or modify the planned routes. Controls have also been announced in subway stations, streets and avenues to detect materials that could be used in violent acts, especially gas masks, firecrackers and mortars. The soldiers of Operation Sentinelle will provide support in protecting buildings and public institutions.
But while the executive reinforces his response, merchants prepare on their own. In Parisian neighborhoods such as Les Halles and the Marais, many establishments have installed wooden panels to protect their shop windows. Others have reinforced the metal blinds and removed valuable merchandise from the view from the street. Some stores and restaurants will close earlier, while other businesses have decided not to open during the day of mobilization. The Paris Police Prefecture has recommended that merchants adapt their schedules, protect their premises and use, when possible, to private security personnelto. He has also advised them to remove furniture from the terraces and objects that could be used as projectiles.
Museums will remain closed
Fear also hits the cultural sector: this Saturday the Louvre, the Orsay Museum, the Orangerie, the Picasso Museum and the Grand Palais will remain closed, as well as institutions such as the Jeu de Paume, the Petit Palais and the Stock Exchange. The international contemporary art fair Art Basel Paris, which was due to last until Sunday, brought forward its closing to Friday afternoon. Closures and cancellations of cultural activities have also been announced in Lyon and other cities. The Ministry of Culture has asked establishments to take all necessary measures to protect visitors, staff and works of art amid fears of a repeat of last weekend’s looting and vandalism.
With the authorities promising firmness and merchants entrenched behind their shop windows, France today faces a test of security and public trust. But above all, the dilemma of containing possible overflows without sacrificing a deeply French symbol: the right to protest.