France braces for protests as Yellow Vests urge 'mass disobedience'

France faces nationwide protests Saturday as unions and student groups hold an authorized march in Paris over the high cost of living, while the Yellow Vests movement plans a banned separate rally, prompting a massive police deployment. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said 70,000 security forces will be deployed, warning rioters are expected. The demonstrations follow weeks of youth-led unrest and strikes, with hundreds of thousands of workers protesting, and occur less than six months before a presidential election where the far right leads polls. The Yellow Vests, who staged protests eight years ago over fuel-tax hikes, are urging "mass disobedience" despite the ban. Unions demand minimum wage increases, tax reforms, and better learning conditions, though the government faces limited fiscal room amid pressure to rein in debt.