France prepares for day of protest a week after nationwide riots
Hundreds of thousands are expected to turn out, as more than 70,000 police officers are to be deployed over some may defy restrictions.
Key points
- France is deploying 70,000 police officers ahead of Saturday's nationwide protests, a week after major unrest.
- Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said authorities would be uncompromising with vandals, looters and violent actors.
- Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin said 232 people have been imprisoned and over 1,100 appeared in court.
France is on high alert for a new day of nationwide protests on Saturday, one week after some of the country's worst unrest in decades. Hundreds of thousands of protesters are expected in Paris and other cities for a second round of demonstrations organised by students, trade unions and anti-government groups.
The interior ministry said it will deploy 70,000 police officers, increasing security in French cities after opposition parties accused the government of failing to anticipate the scale of the unrest on 17 October.
Restrictions and security measures
President Emmanuel Macron decreed earlier this week that only demonstrations organised by recognised trade unions would be permitted on Saturday. Lyon, Nice and Montpellier have announced blanket bans on gatherings, while other cities have allowed registered demonstrations, including a trade union march in Marseille after an earlier ban was reversed.
In Paris, a march organised by the student trade union and backed by labour groups must avoid the city centre. The Louvre, Orsay and Picasso museums will close on Saturday, a PSG home match has been moved to Monday, and some businesses have boarded up windows.
We will be uncompromising with the vandals, with the looters, and all those who commit acts of violence
— Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez
Prosecutions and political tensions
Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin said 232 people had been imprisoned over the 17 October riots and more than 1,100 had appeared in court, with around 260 cases involving charges of organised gang activity. He has ordered prosecutors to seek measures against those convicted of looting or attacking police, including bans on demonstrations, voting and social media access.
A revived yellow-vest movement listed more than 500 planned demonstrations and some 200 other actions on Saturday and demanded Macron resign. A two-day National Rally conference in Orléans could be a flashpoint, with left-wing groups expected to gather there as Marine Le Pen speaks.
