Macron moves to ban unauthorized protests as anger over unrest and repression grows
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French President Emmanuel Macron said illegal protests will be banned in the coming days while blaming recent riots on ultra-left groups, even as authorities brace for fresh demonstrations across the country and critics warn of a crackdown on dissent.
French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Thursday that protests deemed "illegitimate" would be banned in the coming days, blaming "seditious" ultra-left groups for the riots and looting that occurred last weekend. He told reporters after a meeting with intelligence chiefs and senior ministers that demonstrations organized by trade unions could still proceed but might be redirected along alternative routes to protect businesses, underscoring a hard-line response to public anger.
"Last Saturday we had political and seditious acts by ultra-left groups whose aim is to bring down the Republic," Macron said.
Local authorities in Lyon confirmed that all protests scheduled for Saturday have been prohibited, while other cities brace for potential unrest amid growing fears of sweeping restrictions on public assembly. The main student union UNEF has called for rallies, and the Yellow Vest movement has planned a march through central Paris. Businesses, including luxury retailer Hermès, have increased security and boarded up shop windows in anticipation of possible violence and further social tension.
In the northern city of Orléans, officials are preparing for demonstrations as the far-right National Rally holds its annual meeting. A student protest scheduled for Thursday in Paris was also banned, though metro stations in the city centre were closed as a precaution.
The unrest, described by officials as some of the worst urban disturbances in years, follows weeks of protests over rising energy costs, household budget pressures, and concerns about public services. Two arrests were made after an arson attack on Limoges city hall, and a third night of local curfews passed without major incidents.
Investor sentiment reflected the turmoil, with yields on France's 10-year government bonds rising above those of comparable U.S. Treasury securities for the first time since 2013, a sign that the political crisis is spilling into the broader economy.