Hundreds of thousands of people are expected to march across France on Thursday, while public-sector workers stage a nationwide strike in a fresh challenge to President Emmanuel Macron's government, following weeks of unrest ahead of the presidential election.
The mobilisation, called by trade unions including the left-wing CGT and backed by student groups, follows demonstrations over the cost of living, public services and deteriorating conditions in education. The protests have triggered some of the country's worst civil unrest in years.
French authorities are deploying around 70,000 police officers nationwide, BFM TV reported. The domestic intelligence service expects between 500,000 and 700,000 people to demonstrate outside Paris, according to the broadcaster.
Government spokesperson Maud Bregeon said authorities were on high alert after riots and looting on October 17 damaged shops and public buildings.
"We are extremely vigilant because it is out of the question to relive October 17," she said after Wednesday's cabinet meeting.
Students and public workers join mobilisation
The Education Ministry said 17.5 percent of public primary school teachers were expected to strike, while unions warned of disruptions to rail and public transport services.
Students are also expected to join the marches, citing deteriorating school conditions and uncertainty about their future.
"We're trying to keep mobilising as much as possible. Some people aren't doing so because they're afraid. A lot of people are afraid of police violence," said Irma de Banville, a 19-year-old student in Paris.
The government has defended police tactics, while saying allegations of misconduct would be investigated.
Macron seeks to contain unrest ahead of election
Macron convened a defence and security meeting on Wednesday to prepare for the demonstrations, highlighting the scale of a movement that began with student concerns but has since broadened into a challenge to his government.
"The goal in the coming weeks is to get the river that overflowed back into its bed and to launch the presidential election in the calmest possible conditions," an official close to Macron said.
The official pointed to a decline in the number of high schools blockaded this week compared with earlier in the crisis.
Nationwide demonstrations last Saturday were largely peaceful, although some clashes occurred on the fringes. Political tensions remain high as candidates position themselves ahead of the election and opposition parties seek to capitalise on public frustration over living standards and government policy.
France's power sector is also expected to be affected. State-owned utility EDF said electricity workers' unions would join Thursday's strike.
A previous power-sector walkout in mid-September reduced electricity supplies and cut delivery capacity at Dunkirk LNG, France's largest liquefied natural gas terminal.
