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Saturday, October 17, 2026
FRANCE YELLOW VESTS WEEK 411*STUDENT PROTESTS CONTINUE*HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS PROTEST WITH CONFRONTATONS*DUTCH-FRENCH NUKE WEAPONS COOPERATION*LE PEN POLLING FIRST, MELENCHON SECOND*
(NEWS, COMMENT AND ANALYSIS WITH MAINSTREAM MEDIA SOURCES)
(ADDITIONAL MATERIAL WILL BE ADDED DURING THE DAY AS PROTESTS UNFOLD)
On Wednesday Dutch officials in Paris discussing the Netherlands participation in France's nuclear deterrence.
Conventional defense cooperation also on the agenda but now the Netherlands is responding to French President Emmanuel Macron's invitation to European nations to come under France's nuclear umbrella.
The UK, Germany, Poland, Belgium, Greece, Sweden and Denmark also offered positive responses to Mr. Macron's initiative.
One potential outcome of Dutch-French nuclear weapons talks could be the deployment of French nuclear weapons in the Netherlands.
While the British nuclear deterrent is dependent on use of American systems in missile-launching submarines France maintains its own sovereign nuclear deterrence including four submarines with 48 missiles each containing five warheads.
In addition, France has 50 nuclear tipped cruise missiles that can be launched from Rafale warplanes.
When President Macron extended his invitation for European countries to join France's nuclear deterrence earlier this year he announced that France will increase the number of its nuclear warheads...
THIS WEEK A NEW ODOXA POLL IN THE APRIL 2027 FIRST ROUND PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION SHOWING THE TOP TWO FINISHERS TO BE MARINE LE PEN OF THE NATIONAL RALLY AND JEAN-LUC MELENCHON OF LA FRANCE INSOUMISE (LFI).
LE PEN AT 37-38 PERCENT SUPPORT, MELENCHON AT 18-18.5 PERCENT SUPPORT.
CENTIST CANDIDATE LE HAVRE MAYOR EDOUARD PHILIPPE GAINING 17 PERCENT OF THE VOTE IN THE FIRST ROUND.
IF LE PEN FACED MELENCHON IN THE SECOND-ROUND VOTE ON MAY 2ND SHE WOULD WIN A MAJOR LANDSLIDE VICTORY.
HER MARGIN OF VICTORY OVER MR. PHILIPPE IN A SECOND ROUND VOTE WOULD BE NARROWER BUT SIGNIFICANT...
On Tuesday the high school student protest movement again took to the streets of France 480,000 demonstrators across the country according to the organizers with the government estimate 161,500.
University students joining in swelling protest ranks compared to the previous Thursday.
Swedish activist Greta Thunberg appeared in Paris in support of the demonstrations...
Another day of street protests on Thursday with Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu speaking of the student protests as a 'movement of urban violence'.
Today a nationwide day of protest with demonstrations banned in some areas of the center of Paris.
Today's demonstrations encompass the students demanding more money be spent on schools along with public frustration at the increasingly high cost of living driven by energy shortages linked to the Ukraine, Iran and Yemen wars.
Demonstrations nationwide tens of thousands in Paris hundreds of thousands protesting nationwide today.
THE CGT TRADE UNION FEDERATION ESTIMATING MORE THAN 500,000 PROTESTERS ON THE STREETS TODAY EARLIER IN THE DAY BUT TONIGHT ORGANIZERS ESTIMATED 800,000 DEMONSTRATING ACROSS FRANCE.
THE GOVERNMENT'S OFFICIAL ESTIMATE OF PROTESTERS TONIGHT 550,000 INCLUDING 110,000 IN PARIS.
Many peaceful protests but much media attention given over to violent elements that manifest themselves in the midst of the demonstrations and give government officials reason to ban protests in certain locations in Paris as is the case today.
The ultimate origin of those extreme elements is something worth more investigation.
In the midst of the mass demonstrations protesters wearing Yellow Vests.
There were confrontational scenes with police at Place de la Republique in Paris. There police used tear gas...VIDEO
Green Party National Assembly member Sandrine Rousseau condemning police actions speaking of:
"scenes that are unacceptable in a democracy"
Rousseau calling on Interior Minister Laurent Nunez to:
"calm down his policemen"
At one point demonstrators entered city halls in Lille and Marseille.
Some incidents involving fires or vandalism reported particularly in Marseille where shops were looted.
Hundreds of arrests were made by police.
Leftist Presidential Candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon participating in the Paris protest today said:
"Wherever there are no police, there is calm and good humor"
Marching in Paris this afternoon Green Party Presidential Candidate Marine Tondelier says the government's characterization of the student protests as 'ultra violent' is a means of creating antagonism and stirring up conflict.
She also said:
"I'm fed up with the doctrine of maintaining order in this country"
There was an emergency government meeting at 6 pm with President Emmanuel Macron on social media saying in part:
"There is no place for violence in our Republic. We will stand together against the sowers of chaos..."
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