In brief
Following last weekend’s riots that saw historic buildings destroyed and thousands arrested, President Emmanuel Macron has declared that only officially sanctioned union demonstrations will be permitted on Saturday. The decree bans all other protest groups, labeling them “illegitimate,” and offers alternate routes for union organisers that respect business activity. Interior minister Jean‑Didier Berger raises police deployment by 20 %, while the justice ministry reports 217 convictions and a staggering 2,700 arrests across the country. The government cites recent unrest fueled by the gilets jaunes movement and student protests, vowing to restore calm and protect public safety. The decision comes amid increasing tensions as France approaches its final presidential election.
In the wake of last weekend’s violent protests across France, President Emmanuel Macron has declared that Saturday’s demonstrations will be limited to authorised union marches only.
The decree bans all other protest groups, calling them “illegitimate,” and offers alternate routes for union organisers that respect business activity. Macron stated that only trade‑union organisations will be allowed to demonstrate, while non‑union groups will face bans wherever possible.
Interior Minister Jean‑Didier Berger announced a 20 % increase in police deployment compared to last weekend, after the government was accused of being blindsided by the scale of the unrest. The justice ministry reported 217 convictions in fast‑track trials, with that number expected to rise.
Over 2,700 people were arrested across France, and more than 1,000 have appeared in court. Half of those detained had no prior criminal record, according to the French newspaper Le Figaro.
The riots, which followed big demonstrations against the high cost of living and school conditions, saw scenes of looting and destruction of historic buildings. In Lyon, the tourism office was set on fire, and the city’s prefecture issued a blanket ban on demonstrations for Saturday.
The unrest also sparked curfews in several cities, including Marseille, Bordeaux, Nice and Lyon, as authorities attempted to curb the spread of violence.
Despite the intense crackdown, President Macron remains ready to confront further dissent, warning against “political and even seditious acts organised by far‑left groups” that seek to undermine the Republic.
