Politics · 2026-10-24 · Morning briefing

France deploys 70,000 police as protests force museum closures

France will deploy 70,000 police officers and close major Paris museums, including the Louvre and Orsay Museum, on Saturday. The measures are a response to widespread looting and unrest that followed demonstrations a week ago, when more than half a million people took to the streets across the country.

The movement began last month with high school students protesting poor learning conditions and a lack of staff. It has since expanded into a nationwide expression of anger over the rising cost of living. Last weekend's demonstrations saw some 3,000 shops damaged or looted.

The crisis comes as President Emmanuel Macron's popularity sits at its lowest point since his 2017 election. The disruption has also hit the cultural sector; Art Basel, a prestigious contemporary art fair, cancelled its weekend programme in Paris due to the threat of unrest.

Summary written by Cup of News with AI from the sources below. Check the originals for the full story.

Read the sources

• Louvre and Other Paris Museums to Close as France Deploys 70,000 Officers Ahead of Saturday Protests– The Epoch Times
• Paris Shuts Museums and Police Deploy in Big Numbers for New Protests Across France
• The Louvre and Other Paris Museums Will Close Saturday as France Braces for More Protests
• France Plans to Bolster Police Presence, Expecting New Protests
• France tightens security in anticipation of weekend protests

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