French President Emmanuel Macron said Monday that France can maintain public order without a state of emergency for now, as ministers prepare to address grievances fueling protests over schools and living costs.
Speaking in Marseille, Macron left an emergency declaration available if unrest worsens. He described the demands behind the broader movement as legitimate and said he had directed the government to respond. Student protests have spread beyond schools, with living costs among the issues he identified.
The Interior Ministry counted 410,000 people at 289 demonstrations on Oct. 24, including 110,000 in Paris, in figures released Oct. 25. The CGT union estimated nearly 800,000 participants nationwide as of 11:30 a.m. ET (5:30 p.m. CEST) on Oct. 24.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said Oct. 19 that a state of emergency remained an option, but that localized, partial curfews were more suitable at the time.
In earlier EconoTimes coverage of the unrest, historian Andrew Smith questioned whether success in maintaining order would lead to a political response to protesters' demands.
Shops damaged during the Oct. 17-18 violence face disruption. For affected businesses, the government has listed support for reduced working hours that leaves no employer cost for firms with fewer than 250 employees, loans of up to €50,000 and emergency aid of up to €1,500.
National Education Minister Édouard Geffray and Higher Education, Research and Space Minister Philippe Baptiste are due to present the conclusions of a national high school student consultation at 12:30 p.m. ET (5:30 p.m. CET) Monday. The announced agenda also includes discussions on academic guidance and Parcoursup, France's university admissions platform, as well as government responses to student concerns. The ministry has not specified the measures.
The CGT has called for another strike and demonstrations on Nov. 5.