Home · World · Oct 22 archive
France's Macron tightens curbs on protests, blaming hard left for unrest
· Confirmed
In Short: French President Emmanuel Macron announced stricter measures to ban 'illegitimate' protests, aiming to protect city centers, businesses, and public buildings, according to Al Jazeera (Qatar) and France 24 (France).
Al Jazeera (Qatar) reported that Thursday’s protests would be banned in key parts of Paris until 8pm, while France 24 (France) noted that Macron said France would ban all 'illegitimate' protests in the coming days, with approved demonstrations led by organized groups like unions required to take alternative routes.
The BBC (United Kingdom) reported that the tourism office in Lyon was set on fire during protests last weekend, leading the city to ban all demonstrations this Saturday. Only authorized union protests will be allowed in French towns and cities on Saturday.
Japantimes (Japan) reported that France was reeling from widespread damage caused in violent protests the day before, with 1,800 people arrested, a historic town hall torched, and widespread looting. The BBC (United Kingdom) also reported that thousands of students have been demonstrating over education standards, with protests spreading from Paris to other cities.
Al Jazeera (Qatar) and France 24 (France) reported that Macron blamed 'seditious acts' by 'ultra-left' groups for last weekend’s riots and looting. A police source told the AFP news agency the ban was necessary due to organizers’ 'inability to prevent violence and vandalism'.
France 24 (France) reported that more than 200 people have been sentenced to prison and started serving their terms over the unrest that shook France last weekend. Al Jazeera (Qatar) reported that at least 2,500 people were arrested after riots broke out in several areas, with shops looted.
Al Jazeera (Qatar) and France 24 (France) reported that the restrictions come after more than half a million people gathered across France on Saturday in a protest that brought together students demanding better conditions in schools and groups denouncing high living costs.
Al Jazeera (Qatar) reported that French authorities have barred demonstrations in several of the country’s largest cities, as President Emmanuel Macron blamed far-left groups for stoking violence during weekend protests. France 24 (France) reported that the government is battling to contain increasingly violent protests over classroom conditions and funding.
Al Jazeera (Qatar) reported that the Paris Police Prefecture announced that Thursday’s protests would be banned in key parts of the city until 8pm (18:00 GMT). France 24 (France) reported that Macron said France would ban all 'illegitimate' protests in the coming days, while approved demonstrations led by organized groups such as unions would be required to take alternative routes outside city centres.
Al Jazeera (Qatar) reported that the restrictions come after more than half a million people gathered across France on Saturday in a protest that brought together students demanding better conditions in schools and groups denouncing high living costs. France 24 (France) reported that the government is battling to contain increasingly violent protests over classroom conditions and funding.
Al Jazeera (Qatar) reported that French authorities have barred demonstrations in several of the country’s largest cities, as President Emmanuel Macron blamed far-left groups for stoking violence during weekend protests. France 24 (France) reported that the government is battling to contain increasingly violent protests over classroom conditions and funding.
Al Jazeera (Qatar) and France 24 (France) reported that the restrictions come after more than half a million people gathered across France on Saturday in a protest that brought together students demanding better conditions in schools and groups denouncing high living costs.
Al Jazeera (Qatar) reported that French authorities have barred demonstrations in several of the country’s largest cities, as President Emmanuel Macron blamed far-left groups for stoking violence during weekend protests. France 24 (France) reported that the government is battling to contain increasingly violent protests over classroom conditions and funding.
Background
Florian Philippot, leader of the French Patriots party and a candidate in France’s presidential election, called on Macron to resign amid the protests, clashes with police, and unrest across the country.
What's confirmed
- Speaking from the Elysee Palace on Thursday, Macron said France would ban all “illegitimate” protests in the coming days, while approved demonstrations led by organised groups like unions would be required to take alternative routes outside city centres to protect businesses.
- Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, who met union representatives on Wednesday, 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.
- Some of those protests, including marches in Lyon, will also be banned, local authorities said.
- French President Emmanuel Macron blamed Saturday’s riots on what he called “seditious acts” by “ultra-left” groups, whom he accused of trying to “bring down the Republic”.
What's still developing
- Thursday’s planned protests were seen as a prelude to a large demonstration on Saturday, when activists from the “yellow vest” movement, whose demonstrations over fuel prices shook France in 2018 and 2019, are expected to join.
- F rench Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu on Tuesday vowed a “massive” police presence at fresh protests called for the coming weekend, as he faced criticism over the handling of recent street violence.
- “It’s that thing you see on TV, in all the good war films.” Macron, currently on a Gulf tour where he secured additional diesel supplies in an effort to bring down prices, has acknowledged shortcomings in the handling of the protests.
- Several cars were set alight in Paris High school student Kamil Alahyan, 18, said he was protesting "for so many reasons -- the elections coming up in 2027, politicians who lie, the ultra-rich who've been taking more and more wealth over the past 10 years".
- France Student Protests Continue in Earnest (5,000 Arrested Last Week) Kanako Mita, Sawako Utsumi, and Lee Jay Walker President Emmanuel Macron of France was first elected in 2017.
- The French president said some leaders were influenced by fake videos generated by artificial intelligence about the unrest President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday criticised world leaders for making “stupid” comments about the rioting on the sidelines of protests in France, in an apparent swipe at US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
- “There was foreign manipulation of information which led to unacceptable and even stupid comments by many, including foreign leaders,” Macron told reporters in Doha after a trip to the Gulf.
- (Reporting by John Irish; Editing by Susan Fenton) Venerdì la polizia antisommossa si è scontrata con studenti delle scuole superiori in tutta la Francia e i sindacati hanno indetto uno sciopero degli insegnanti, mentre il governo del presidente Emmanuel Macron lottava per contenere le proteste sempre più violente sulle condizioni delle aule e sui finanziamenti.
- "Such actions include attempted looting, confrontations with law enforcement, the setting of fires to street furniture and the targeting of seats of power and media outlets," a spokesperson for the interior ministry said, blaming the unrest on what it described as the "ultra-left".
- About 100 people walked towards the start of the protests shouting "All cops are bastards".
- In a post on social media, Philippot urged Macron to step down, arguing that his resignation was necessary to restore the authority of the state.
- With just months to go before elections to replace President Emmanuel Macron, French authorities had been hoping that the protests would start to ease ahead of half-term holidays to start at the end of the week.