France is preparing for a new round of protests against government policies on education and the economy, as the authorities seek to prevent a repeat of the unrest and widespread incidents seen last Saturday.
Confusion had persisted since Saturday morning over a march scheduled for the early afternoon in Paris. On Friday evening, the police announced a change to the route, prompting protests from trade unions and left-wing parties. The unions appealed to the courts, asking for the decision to be overturned.
The Paris administrative court rejected the appeal and accepted the police’s argument that the change was necessary, partly in view of the racist attack in the town of Trappes on Friday, in which one person was killed and others were injured.
The march was initially due to start at Place de la Bastille and end at Place de la Nation. The police later announced that it would instead start at Place d’Italie and end in the Vincennes area. The unions ultimately decided to comply with the police decision.
Shops have since boarded up so as to protect their premises.
Tear gas and tensions
The authorities have authorised union demonstrations in several major cities, including Marseille, Toulouse, Strasbourg, Lille and Grenoble. A march was not authorised in Lyon, where demonstrators began gathering on Saturday morning and police sought to disperse them using tear gas.
France’s Interior Minister, Laurent Nuñez, announced that 70,000 police officers would be on alert. Helicopters and drones would fly over the cities where demonstrations are taking place.
Significant police forces have also been deployed in Orléans, where a conference of the far-right National Rally, Marine Le Pen’s party, is being held. More than 10,000 people are expected to gather to oppose the conference taking place in the city, with anti-fascist slogans. Leading figures from left-wing parties and trade unions are taking part in the demonstration.
Amid this tense atmosphere, French Prime Minister Lecornu announced that he was convening an interministerial committee today to manage the crisis. In a message to police officers, the interior minister urged them to be extremely flexible and proactive, telling them: “I know the acts of violence you will face.”
The minister also said that, according to information available to the police, groups of demonstrators aligned with the far left would disperse across Paris and attempt acts of violence.
Source: CNA
