France Deploys 70,000 Officers as Louvre and Museums Close Ahead of Protests
France deploys 70000 law enforcement officers and closes major Paris museums including the Louvre ahead of anticipated high cost of living protests.
POLICY WIRE — Paris, France — French authorities are mobilizing roughly 70,000 law enforcement officers across the nation on Saturday while shutting down prominent cultural landmarks in the capital, including the Louvre, to forestall potential violence during upcoming demonstrations.
Citizens plan to assemble nationwide to protest soaring living costs, drawing participation from students, members of the CGT labor union, and activists associated with the yellow vest movement whose previous demonstrations heavily disrupted the country in 2018 and 2019.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez detailed that the vast deployment includes a combination of police officers, gendarmes, helicopters, armored vehicles, and water cannons, alongside elite units tasked with protecting public structures like city halls under a highly mobile security strategy.
Nuñez emphasized that authorities detected multiple calls on social media from radical far-left factions inciting violence, vandalism, and looting, prompting a stern response. Officials pledged an uncompromising approach centered on swift arrests and strict legal repercussions for anyone engaging in unlawful disruptions.
In response to the security directives, the Culture Ministry ordered the closure of major institutions such as the Louvre, the Orsay museum, the Picasso museum, and the Grand Palais. The directive instructed all overseen facilities to implement mandatory safeguards to guarantee visitor safety, protect personnel, and preserve historical artworks.
The security concerns also impacted the contemporary art scene, as organizers of Art Basel Paris truncated their schedule. Following two days reserved for invitation-only guests, the fair opened to the general public on Friday for a single day before canceling its entire weekend program.
Bringing together exhibits from 211 international galleries at the Grand Palais, the prestigious event was deemed too high-risk to proceed through the weekend given the volatile climate. International attendees and local gallery directors alike voiced support for the cancellation, viewing it as a prudent measure amid escalating social tensions in France.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
