France President Emmanuel Macron promises ‘strong measures’ to assuage protests

French President Emmanuel Macron promised on Monday that his government would announce a package of measures in response to weeks of street protests over a broad set of grievances, while acknowledging the risk of more unrest ahead.

His prime minister, Sebastien Lecornu, is set to hold a news conference after a meeting with unions of high school students who want more resources for the education sector and an overhaul of a university admissions process they say embeds inequalities.

“I have … asked the government to respond to the legitimate demands that lie at the root of this social movement,” Macron told reporters in Marseille, where he traveled to inspect the damage from earlier protests.

French President Emmanuel Macron called for a ban on all demonstrations that were not organized by trade unions, and urged a return to calm. Hannah McKay/Reuters Pool Photo via AP
The protests show little sign of easing after violence nine days ago engulfed dozens of cities, leading to fears the state had lost control of the streets.

Macron repeated what Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said earlier that more unrest is expected next weekend.

The protests show little sign of easing after violence nine days ago engulfed dozens of cities, leading to fears the state had lost control of the streets.

In response to the turmoil, the interior ministry deployed 70,000 police for Saturday’s demonstrations, which unions called to denounce the high cost of living and public services.

The movement has grown far beyond initial student discontent, drawing in trade unions and “yellow vest” activists, known for their high-visibility jackets and mass demonstrations against economic pressures including high fuel costs.

Nunez said the huge police presence prevented a repeat of violence seen earlier this month, but asked by BFM TV on Monday whether he expected further disturbances during demonstrations planned for October 31, he replied: “Clearly, yes.”

“Halloween evening is traditionally always a bit lively. We expect it to be complicated again,” he added.

Protesters gather in Reformes Square and clash with police in Marseille, France. Getty Images
Authorities in French cities and towns have imposed curfews, restrictions on movement, and some outright bans on demonstrations planned for October 24, following outbreaks of violence and looting on the fringes of the mostly peaceful protests that took place on October 17. Getty Images

Nunez said 1,435 people were arrested nationwide during Saturday’s demonstrations and said police had also recorded a new phenomenon, with organized far-right gangs confronting far-left activists in several cities.

“We knew there had been calls from numerous identity-based and nationalist movements to come out, officially, to defend businesses,” he said. “In a number of cities, such as Nice and Montpellier, these groups arrived in organized formations, mainly to target the ultra-left movement.”

The government sought to portray Saturday’s operation as evidence it had regained the upper hand, despite sporadic violence, especially in France’s three largest cities — Paris, Marseille and Lyon.

Demonstrators clash with riot police, who fire tear gas grenades and deploy water cannons to disperse protesters during a demonstration against the rising cost of living and poor conditions in the education system in Paris, France, Saturday. Anadolu via Getty Images
Police estimated that 110,000 people joined the demonstration in Paris, while the CGT trade union put the turnout at 250,000. Anadolu via Getty Images

“The state prevailed this weekend. The state was strong,” government spokeswoman Maud Bregeon told RTL radio.

She said protesters had raised legitimate grievances that needed to be heard, but added that restoring calm was a prerequisite for meaningful negotiations.


More coverage of the riots plaguing France’s streets


With his presidential mandate due to expire in April and public finances under severe strain, Macron has limited scope to defuse the crisis through the costly concessions that helped quell previous waves of unrest.

Business leaders said the unrest was continuing to inflict heavy economic damage despite a calmer weekend.

Alain Di Crescenzo, head of the CCI France network of chambers of commerce and industry, said many retailers had remained closed as a precaution after the violence of October 17, adding that sales had fallen by about 80%.

“We have shopkeepers who are tired and demoralized, and we are killing local commerce,” he told Radio Classique.

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