Protestsupdated 45m ago2 min read
Emmanuel Macron Blames Far Left for France Riots, Bans Non-Union Protests
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Macron blames far-left groups for riots and seditious acts. He bans non-union protests and allows only union-led demonstrations.
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Macron bans non-union protests
French President Emmanuel Macron accused organized groups from the far left of being behind riots that occurred last Saturday in France, and he said the government will ban unorganized protests by unions in the coming days. Macron said the state will allocate alternative routes for marches organized by organized entities, such as unions, to protect stores and businesses, and he said he would convene the Defense Council tomorrow to make additional security decisions.
Macron told reporters that “France will ban unorganized protests by unions in the coming days,” and he said authorities will deal with those responsible for acts of violence with “utmost firmness.” Macron also said French authorities had decided to ban all demonstrations in Lyon, the third largest city in France, on Saturday, just before nationwide street movements were scheduled.
Paris curbs and arrests
The Paris Police Prefecture announced that Thursday’s protests would be banned in key parts of the city until 8pm, including areas near the presidential Elysee Palace, both houses of parliament, the city’s main train stations, and parts of downtown where looting occurred over the weekend. Macron said France would ban all “illegitimate” protests in the coming days, while approved demonstrations led by organized groups like unions would be required to take alternative routes outside city centres to protect businesses.
Macron said he would convene the country’s defence council on Friday to take further action, after he blamed Saturday’s riots on “seditious acts” by “ultra-left” groups. French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said a “massive” security operation was planned for Saturday to prevent a repeat of the violence by small groups of rioters that had exposed shortcomings in security measures.
Next weekend and legal fights
France’s restrictions expanded beyond Paris as authorities prohibited protests planned for Thursday in Lyon, Lille and Grenoble, and they also prohibited demonstrations planned for Saturday in Lyon. The Rhône prefecture said, “the prefect has decided to prohibit by decree any demonstration in the city of Lyon this Saturday,” and it framed the move as a response to the events of 17 October.
The BBC said Interior Minister Jean-Didier Berger stated police deployments would be increased by 20% compared to last weekend, after the government was accused of being blindsided by the scale of the unrest. Kobilia Morrow told reporters that “What we are witnessing is a government that does not want to see any protests at all,” as she criticized authorities for trying to distinguish between protesters “(the good and the bad).”