France has deployed a 70,000-strong police presence for a fresh day of nationwide protests on Saturday, as anger over living costs, public services and the government of President Emmanuel Macron continues to drive people onto the streets.

Reuters reported that some 150 gatherings were planned across France, and that the demonstrations fall on Halloween, two weeks after riots and looting caught security forces off guard.

Paris march banned by top court

France's top administrative court confirmed on Saturday that a march between the Paris squares of Republique and Bastille will be banned, rejecting a challenge by unions. Demonstrations will instead have to be held on boulevards on the eastern fringe of the city, away from the main shopping areas in central Paris.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez has vowed that there will be no repeat of the scenes two weeks ago. "Everyone is on deck to ensure an extremely firm response to any trouble," he told a news conference earlier this week, describing Saturday as carrying "a very high risk" of unrest.

What is driving the protests

The protests gathered pace in late September as Mr Macron's minority government launched talks on the 2027 budget. With public debt approaching 120% of economic output, the government is under pressure to rein in spending.

Students angry at crowded classes and an admissions system widely seen as unfair have been joined by trade unions and a re-emergent "Yellow Vest" movement demanding action on the cost of living. The government is also pushing ahead with a law making rioters liable to pay up to 10,000 euros for damage caused by themselves or their group.

The movement has inspired youth-led protests elsewhere in Europe, with demonstrations planned in more than 30 German cities on Saturday, Reuters reported.