French government blocks weekend rallies and steps up police presence

UPDATE - follow-up to French city of Lyon bans 'all protests' on October 24: French authorities on Thursday imposed bans and restrictions on fresh protests following violent demonstrations last weekend.

Crackdown

President Emmanuel Macron announced curfews and bans on groups without legitimacy holding protests after meeting key ministers and intelligence officials. Macron blamed the worst violence on organised ultra-left groups aiming to bring down the republic. Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin stated that 217 people out of 2,700 arrested have been locked up, while 1,000 more face prosecution. Prosecutors added that a 66-year-old man was arrested on Thursday for the arson of the Limoges town hall last weekend. Meanwhile, the interior ministry announced that 20 percent more police will be deployed this coming Saturday compared to last weekend.

City Bans

Authorities banned all protests in Lyon on Saturday following the looting of 200 to 300 shops and the torching of a tourist office. Other cities including Grenoble, Rouen, Le Havre and Toulon also banned protests in their city centres. In Paris, police restricted the planned Saturday march to the east of the capital starting at Bastille, barring it from the city centre. Art Basel Paris decided to shut this weekend two days early due to the protests. The Yellow Vest movement and unions opposed the orders, with organiser Benjamin Ball stating they would not sign off on them. A student protest in Paris went ahead on Thursday after an emergency court overturned a police ban, with student leader Coppelia Moreau accusing the government of trying to stop all demonstrations.

Context

These restrictions follow mass demonstrations by more than half a million people against the surging cost of living that degenerated into widespread looting and vandalism. Political figures including Marine Le Pen and Jean-Luc Melenchon have criticized the government's response from opposing political angles.