70,000 police deployed as France braces for major strikes
A Paris court approved a new protest route just hours before nationwide demonstrations begin.
By Robert Ward ·
Approximately 70,000 police officers are deployed across France to manage crowds expected to gather on Thursday, November 5, 2026. This security buildup marks the latest escalation in a labor dispute that has tested President Emmanuel Macron’s administration just five months before the next presidential election.
A Paris court granted approval for an alternative protest route late on Wednesday, November 4. The path, suggested by the police prefecture, links Place de la République to Place de la Nation. This ruling settled a disagreement between strike organizers and authorities who had objected to the initial plan. Organizers now anticipate that between 500,000 and 700,000 people will join strikes outside the capital. In Paris itself, estimates place the number of attendees between 40,000 and 80,000.
The mobilization follows violent clashes with law enforcement during demonstrations on October 17. Those incidents drew criticism toward the government’s response. In reply, the Magistrates’ Union, the French Lawyers’ Union, and the Human Rights League filed a complaint at France's top court. They described the situation as an authoritarian shift and cited alleged violations of the right to demonstrate.
Government spokeswoman Maud Bregeon addressed a press conference after Wednesday's cabinet meeting. She stated that the government is extremely vigilant and emphasized that it is out of the question to relive the events of October 17. During that previous unrest, shops and public buildings sustained damage across the country.
President Macron held a special defense and security meeting on Wednesday to prepare for the upcoming protests. The gathering reflects how the movement has evolved from student anger over school conditions into a wider challenge to the government. The strikes are led by the left-wing CGT and supported by student groups, demanding measures to help households cope with rising living costs.
Public workers will join the strikes, and hundreds of thousands are expected to march through French cities. The domestic intelligence service anticipates a large turnout that aligns with union estimates. The strikes have dominated the political agenda in recent weeks, rattling the government’s stability as it navigates economic challenges and social demands.
