France sees uneasy calm after protests avoid repeat of rioting

France experienced a partial reprieve Sunday after Saturday protests ended in clashes but avoided the widespread arson and looting seen a week earlier, though tensions remain high. A fortified police presence and arrests limited vandalism, yet the movement appears to be gaining momentum. The Interior Ministry reported 410,000 demonstrators nationwide, while unions claimed 800,000, with activists calling for more protests on Oct. 31. A Friday shooting in a Paris suburb, denounced by President Emmanuel Macron as a "racist terrorist attack," has added to the strain, and the assailant remains under psychiatric observation. Marine Le Pen launched her presidential campaign Sunday, vowing to restore order, and analysts now see her as favored to win next spring. Critics accuse the government of heavy-handed tactics, while far-left and centrist leaders blame Macron's legacy for deeper problems fueling the unrest.