France is on high alert as the second round of legislative elections approaches.

Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin announced the deployment of 30,000 police and gendarmes nationwide, with 5,000 in Paris alone, to prevent potential unrest on election night.

Authorities fear spontaneous demonstrations and clashes between extremist groups regardless of the results.

In response, businesses in major cities like Paris, Nantes, and Marseille are taking precautions, with some shops barricading their storefronts.

The heightened security measures reflect growing concerns about political tensions and the possibility of violence, particularly from far-left and far-right factions.

This climate of uncertainty is also impacting retailers during the summer sales season, adding economic pressure to an already tense political situation.