France Orders Sentinelle Soldiers Into Streets for Saturday Protests as Italy Sends 500 Troops to Milan

Since the Oct. 17 riots in France, which produced nearly 2,400 arrests, governments in Paris and Rome have moved from curfews and arrests to deploying soldiers. Both are bracing for another round of demonstrations this Saturday, Oct. 24.

France: more police, more mobility, soldiers on guard duty

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez told the National Assembly that France will deploy members of the military's Sentinelle force on Saturday, "mostly to free police and gendarmes in their mission to maintain order." Soldiers will not take over public order duties at the protests. They will handle mainly static security tasks, such as guarding sites.

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said the police presence would be "massive." His stated goal is an "immediate return to order."

Lecornu also admitted a failure. He said the Oct. 17 police deployment was too static and not mobile enough to respond to violence and looting. Nuñez says the new plan adds forces, speed and mobility to counter groups that deliberately try to stretch police across several locations. He has already sent instructions to the prefectures.

The Oct. 17 damage was heavy. At least 3,000 shops were damaged or looted, according to Croatian outlet mojkraj.hr. In Limoges, the historic town hall was burned down, and a man has been arrested in connection with it. Fox News cited financial analysts estimating damages above $1 billion, an unverified figure.

Nuñez had offered to resign over the police handling of the unrest, and President Emmanuel Macron rejected the offer, according to mojkraj.hr.

Curfews and a parliamentary inquiry

Authorities imposed partial curfews in Paris, Bordeaux, Lille and Nice. In Paris, the curfew runs from 11 p.m. Tuesday to 6 a.m. Wednesday around the Place de la République and the Les Halles shopping district. Paris police also banned carrying cans or bottles of petrol or gas, and banned masks and helmets in some areas.

Lecornu said new curfews will be imposed wherever they are needed. Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin has pledged an unrelenting response to further violence.

Political groups in the National Assembly have agreed to open a parliamentary inquiry, which National Assembly President Yaël Braun-Pivet proposed. It is to examine how violent groups organized and how police were deployed, including possible failures in preparation.

Lecornu meets representatives of five unions this morning, Wednesday, Oct. 21, to discuss security. A letter to the unions, reviewed by AFP, said some were trying to subvert the protests with "unacceptable acts." School students were not invited.

Italy: 500 troops, new offences, parental liability

Defense Minister Guido Crosetto signed off Monday on 500 soldiers to support police in Milan, according to Corriere della Sera. Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini called the move a "victory" for his League party: "From words to deeds!"

Meloni's government promised a "firm response from the state." It also announced a new offence of violent participation in a demonstration, tougher penalties for rioters, and financial liability for parents whose children take part in vandalism and looting.

Milan police detained 271 young people after unrest on Saturday and Sunday. Hooded youths set bins ablaze, ransacked shops and smashed windows, including near the cathedral. Police used teargas and water cannon on violent groups that split off from an initially peaceful protest.

Police said Monday that 32 of those detained were arrested, including 23 minors and 13 foreign nationals. Another 28 people were reported to judicial authorities. Luxury retailers including Chanel, Hermès, Gucci and Prada closed early Monday, according to Corriere della Sera.

Further demonstrations are planned in Italy on Saturday.

Why people took to the streets, and who gets blamed

The Milan march was organized by the Italia in Piazza movement. Its stated grievances are the rising cost of living, low wages, high rents and public service shortcomings. In France, Saturday's protests are called by student organizations demanding better education conditions, and yellow vest activists have announced their own mobilization.

President Donald Trump has offered a different explanation. Speaking outside the White House on Monday, he said Italy faces the same problems as France because of immigration: "I told them all it was going to happen, that's a boiler waiting to explode... they came in by the millions, and honestly they are different countries than they were 10 years ago."

Fox News, citing Italian media, reported that many first- and second-generation migrants were among the Milan rioters. No official breakdown of the 271 detainees by background beyond the 13 foreign nationals among those arrested has been released.

The argument over cause has reached the European Parliament. Far-right and far-left MEPs clashed in Strasbourg over the French unrest. Christophe Rouillon, mayor of Coulaines, told Euronews that curfews are bringing calm back to French streets but that parents also bear a big responsibility.

Spread beyond the two countries

Unrest has also reached Belgium and Albania, according to The Independent, and Albania's protests enter a second week, according to Euronews. In Athens, teachers and students are striking and rallying today over the cost of living, housing and low wages, ahead of elections next year, according to Euronews.

What comes next

Saturday is the test for both governments. France is betting that a more mobile police force, freed from guard duty by Sentinelle soldiers, can contain what it could not on Oct. 17. The parliamentary inquiry will examine whether that failure was one of planning or of execution. Italy's new offence and parental-liability rules still have to be written into law, and the first test of the Milan deployment is the same weekend.