French authorities have moved to restrict protests following last weekend’s violent clashes, which left cities across the country under curfew-like measures and led to widespread looting. President Emmanuel Macron announced bans on gatherings by groups deemed “without legitimacy” and ordered additional security measures after a meeting with ministers and intelligence officials.
Macron called for a “return to calm” and said he would convene a defence council meeting on Friday to address new demonstrations planned for Saturday. He blamed “organised ultra-left groups” for the worst violence, accusing them of “sedition.” The unrest began on October 17, during protests against rising living costs that drew over half a million people nationwide.
Police admitted losing control during the clashes, which included attacks on public buildings and shops. Opposition candidates in the upcoming April-May presidential election have criticised the government’s handling of the situation, with Marine Le Pen, the far-right leader, accusing Macron of being too lenient.
Read Also: Journalist’s Book Chronicles Macau’s Pandemic Absurdities with Humor
The government’s response has included banning protests in multiple cities. Marseille and Lyon have imposed total protest bans for Saturday, citing security risks. Lyon alone saw 200 to 300 shops looted and a tourist office burned, according to its mayor. Other cities, including Grenoble, Rouen, and Le Havre, have also restricted demonstrations in their centres.
Courts clash with police over protest bans
A student-led protest in Paris on Thursday proceeded despite an initial police ban, after a court overturned the restriction. Coppelia Moreau, a student leader, criticised the government’s approach, saying it “doesn’t want any demonstrations at all,” which she called a violation of free speech rights.
In Paris, authorities allowed a march to begin near the Bastille but barred it from entering the city centre, where key public buildings and shops are located. Organisers of the Yellow Vest movement and unions rejected the route, with Benjamin Ball, who tracks demonstration plans, stating, “We won’t sign off on it.”
Art Basel Paris, the city’s largest art fair, closed two days early this weekend due to the unrest. The culture ministry also ordered the closure of major museums, including the Louvre and the Orsay, on Saturday.
Read Also: Euro Zone Bond Yields Surge, Reviving Doom Loop Fears
Arrests surge as legal crackdown tightens
Legal actions have accelerated against those arrested during the violence. Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin reported that 217 of 2,700 detainees have already been convicted and jailed, with another 1,000 facing prosecution. On Thursday, a 66-year-old man was arrested for arson targeting Limoges’ 19th-century town hall, following an earlier arrest of a man in his 30s for the same crime.
Political divisions over the unrest remain sharp. Jean-Luc Mélenchon, a far-left candidate, blamed authorities for “non-stop brutal repression,” while Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu held talks with opposition leaders, including a low-ranking official from Le Pen’s National Rally. Lecornu is scheduled to meet student groups, unions, and employers on Monday.
France’s response to the protests reflects a broader struggle to balance security with public dissent. The government’s crackdown on demonstrations—particularly those deemed “illegitimate”—risks deepening tensions, especially as election campaigns intensify. Past unrest, such as the 2018 Yellow Vest protests, showed how prolonged demonstrations can strain police resources and political stability, though this latest wave involves more direct clashes with law enforcement and targeted bans on gatherings.
