France braces for protests a week after riots, with 70,000 police deployed

France is on maximum alert ahead of a new day of national protests on Saturday, one week after some of the worst riots in decades, with over 70,000 police deployed and hundreds of thousands of demonstrators expected despite restrictions. The Interior Ministry announced the security reinforcement after opposition parties accused the government of failing to anticipate the October 17 unrest, which saw looting and arson, including the burning of Limoges' 19th-century city hall. Hundreds have been jailed under expedited procedures. The protests began with student demands over school conditions but have grown into a broader anti-government movement, with President Emmanuel Macron meeting student representatives Friday. The unrest occurs amid political polarization ahead of next spring's presidential election, with far-right and far-left leaders blaming Macron.