France to ban illegitimate protests after riots and looting
French President Emmanuel Macron (photo: Getty Images)
France plans to ban "illegitimate" protests in the coming days. Instead, unions will be offered alternative march routes to protect businesses, according to a statement from French President Emmanuel Macron.
Ban on illegitimate protests
On October 22, Macron said illegitimate protests would be banned in the coming days. Representatives of organized groups, however, would be given an alternative opportunity to express their views.
Before the announcement, the French president met with intelligence officials and ministers.
He also noted that the inciting far-left groups, along with vandals, were behind the unrest and looting across France last Saturday.
October 24 rallies
France's main student union, UNEF, has called for rallies on Saturday.
The Yellow Vests movement (an anti-establishment force that emerged in 2018 – ed.) has submitted plans to hold a march through central Paris.
Defense Council to make decision
Macron is also convening the Defense Council ahead of a new round of protests over the weekend.
He said he will chair a Defense Council meeting on October 23, and they will make further decisions.
The president added that during Saturday's nationwide demonstrations, only trade union-organized protests would be permitted.
RBC-Ukraine previously reported that European regulators are investigating whether foreign states, including Russia, attempted to influence events in France.
Pro-Russian and far-right accounts are known to have circulated videos of violence in an effort to fuel chaos.
On October 19, French authorities also imposed a partial curfew in Paris, Marseille, Nice, and several other cities after riots broke out amid the protests.
