French President Emmanuel Macron urged prefects to reject some protest applications before Saturday’s rallies, while a Paris court suspended an initial police ban on a student march.
Macron called for applications from organizers he considers illegitimate to be refused. He proposed offering union marches alternate routes to steer them away from businesses and public buildings.
The Élysée said Macron chaired a security council with Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu and senior officials. Its account said the meeting covered security planning for the weeks ahead and issues that contributed to the previous weekend’s unrest.
An administrative court suspended the original police ban on a Paris student march Thursday. Police later issued a narrower order allowing a stationary gathering but barring the planned march, Le Monde reported. France’s Internal Security Code allows authorities to prohibit a planned street demonstration if they believe it could disturb public order. The code does not specify a separate test based on an organizer’s political standing.
Macron accused organized ultra-left groups of driving the worst violence after the Oct. 17 demonstrations, saying they sought to bring down the Republic. Publicly cited accounts include no detailed intelligence assessment substantiating his allegation. In an Oct. 18 address, Macron also recognized grievances over living costs and fuel prices, along with students’ concerns about their futures and study conditions. The planned rallies include Yellow Vest activists, AP reported; the movement mobilized over fuel prices in 2018 and 2019.
AFP reported that more than 500,000 people attended the Oct. 17 demonstrations and that 200 to 300 shops were looted in Lyon. AFP also reported that local authorities had banned all demonstrations in Lyon and Marseille for Saturday, Oct. 24, and that police deployments were planned to be 20% higher than the previous weekend.
Reuters reported that France’s 10-year government bond yield reached 5.14% on Thursday, its highest level since July 2002. Reuters did not say the protests caused the increase.
AFP said Macron was scheduled to chair a defense council Friday, Oct. 23, with next steps for Saturday’s demonstrations and later protests on the agenda.
