PARIS/ROME/BERLIN: France will deploy troops alongside police and launch a major security operation on October 24 to prevent further violence, after riots and looting exposed weaknesses in the authorities' response to unrest across the country.

Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said on October 20 that the government would strengthen security measures ahead of fresh protests planned for October 24. He acknowledged the need to restore order after violence swept through Paris, Marseille, Lyon and other cities on October 17.

"The deployment next Saturday will be massive," Lecornu said, stressing that restoring public order was the government's immediate priority.

During a sometimes heated parliamentary debate, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez confirmed that military personnel would support police operations. The government also promised to review its security tactics following widespread criticism that authorities had failed to protect city centers during last weekend's unrest.

Lecornu described the crisis as a choice "between violence and the Republic" and blamed far-left groups for the unrest. However, those groups accused the government of failing to recognize public anger over the rising cost of living and declining public services.

The scale of the violence and the apparent inability of police to contain it shocked France. The unrest has also heightened political tensions ahead of next year's presidential election, with far-right and hard-left candidates polling strongly.

Protests Spread Across Europe

In Milan, northern Italy, police clashed with protesters as demonstrators threw stones and looted shops during rallies against poor public services and rising costs.

In Sicily, farmers say expensive fuel has made it increasingly difficult to operate agricultural machinery. One protest banner read, "We cultivate the land, we harvest debts."

Truckers, farmers and steelworkers have organized roadblocks that have disrupted transport in parts of southern Italy, contributing to local fuel shortages and concerns about supermarket supplies.

In Lisbon, tens of thousands marched over low wages, housing costs and rising living expenses, putting greater pressure on Portugal's center-right government.

Spain has also witnessed nationwide demonstrations after an 87-year-old woman was evicted from her home amid a housing shortage and soaring rents. The unrest has helped trigger a snap election next month. Belgium has also seen protests, while demonstrations in Albania have focused on alleged government corruption, unemployment and poor education.

Far-right Parties Seize Opportunity

The latest energy crisis follows years of economic pressure after the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

In France, rising energy costs have become a major issue before next April's presidential election. Macron's government faces a growing budget deficit and pressure from bond markets. Far-right National Rally leader Marine Le Pen and veteran hard-left politician Jean-Luc Mélenchon have both made fuel prices central campaign issues.

In Italy, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni faces competition from National Future, a new far-right party led by former army general Roberto Vannacci, which supports restoring gas links with Russia.

In Poland, rising energy bills are helping the far-right Confederation of the Polish Crown gain support. Its leader, Grzegorz Braun, has called for renewed Russian oil and gas purchases and has promoted the proposal alongside AfD politicians in Germany.

"I love the smell of Russian gas in the morning," Braun said.