France is on alert before Saturday...an unprecedented security deployment and the use of the army and marches to monitor the demonstrators

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French Prime Minister Sebastien Le Cornu announced on Tuesday that the security deployment during next Saturday's demonstrations will be very extensive, accusing "far-left groups" of planning a rebellion.

The Prime Minister said: “The Minister of Interior gave instructions to the local authorities. The deployment will be heavy next Saturday.”

For his part, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez confirmed, saying: “Some army forces will be deployed to confront next Saturday’s protests.”

He added, "We will, of course, strengthen the security deployment from what it was on October 17, and the methods of intervention will be reviewed in terms of capabilities, the size of the participating forces of course, and the speed of response and movement, to confront and confront these groups, which are dispersing the security forces in a very carefully planned manner."

For its part, the Paris Police confirmed that it will use drones equipped with cameras to monitor vital areas, as part of the security measures established to secure the demonstrations.

France is preparing for a new Saturday of protests amid fears of renewed violence, after the government pledged to tighten security measures and expand the scope of prosecutions against those involved in sabotage and looting.

As October 24 approaches, attention is turning to Paris, where renewed mobilization in the streets is expected, while the authorities are threatening a wide security deployment, and drones are among the common procedures to monitor field movements.

These preparations come after the protests on Saturday, October 17, turned into confrontations and acts of vandalism in a number of French cities, including Paris, Lyon, Marseille, and Bordeaux.

Clashes broke out between demonstrators and security forces, vehicles and buildings were set on fire, and stores were looted, while damage extended to public facilities.

The events demonstrated the scale of the challenge facing the authorities in separating peaceful protesters from groups exploiting the gatherings to carry out violent acts.

Prime Minister Sebastian LeCorno announced, on Monday, the launch of a broad security and judicial operation to pursue those responsible for the sabotage. The authorities also spoke of hiring about 200 investigators in the Paris region to analyze surveillance camera recordings and video clips, including materials published on social media platforms, with the aim of identifying the suspects.

The measures were not limited to investigations, as the authorities resorted to imposing a local and temporary curfew in specific areas, in an attempt to prevent renewed riots during the night hours.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez acknowledged that there were deficiencies in preparations during previous protests, after security forces faced difficulty in dealing with the size of the crowds and the spread of acts of vandalism in multiple locations.

The security preparations coincide with new calls launched by groups from the “yellow vest” movement to organize movements on Saturday, October 24, under the slogan “Macron must go.”

Place de la République and Place de la Bastille in Paris stand out among the sites being discussed for the gathering, but this does not mean that all the announced invitations have obtained official authorization or that their routes and dates have been finally decided.

This mobilization brings to mind the “yellow vest” movement that has rocked France since 2018, in protest against the high costs of living and fuel prices, but the current scene goes beyond the fuel issue alone, with growing complaints about economic pressures and the decline in public services and school conditions, and students, trade unionists, and political groups joining the recent movements.

The government is not only facing a security challenge; The protests reveal the accumulation of social and economic issues that fuel popular anger, at a time when political tensions are escalating before the upcoming presidential elections. While the authorities stress the need to protect public and private property and hold those involved in violence accountable, the use of security force during the protests raises criticism and questions about how to deal with peaceful gatherings and prevent escalation.

The government is now monitoring whether the curfew measures and enhanced security deployment will prevent a repeat of last Saturday's scenes, or whether the expansion of discontent will return the crowds to the streets.

As for Paris, it enters the weekend under the pressure of a new test of the authorities’ ability to contain anger without the security confrontation turning into an additional factor in fueling it.