France is preparing for a third wave of social mobilization this Saturday, a day that the government has classified as a “very high risk” for public order disturbances. The first wave of protests on 17 October, aimed at the high cost of living, saw widespread chaos, including the burning of public buildings and the looting of thousands of shops in major cities such as Paris, Lyon and Marseille. Police estimates put the number of participants at 550,000, while the left‑wing union CGT reported up to 800,000. In response, security forces were significantly reinforced for the second round of demonstrations on 24 October. The day was largely peaceful, with between 410,000 and 800,000 people marching and only isolated incidents of violence. For the upcoming Saturday, which coincides with Halloween, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez announced an “exceptional” security deployment. He warned of a “very high risk of public order disturbances” and cited numerous calls on social media encouraging looting. Approximately 70,000 police officers and gendarmes will be mobilised. In Paris, more than 40 metro stations will be closed and tram services will be affected. A source close to the minister said that episodes of urban violence comparable to those on 17 October could occur throughout the day, with fears of vandalism and looting. After the violence on 17 October, Minister Nunez had issued an apology and acknowledged that control had been lost in some cities. He offered his resignation, which President Emmanuel Macron rejected. The protests are now authorised but will be confined to peripheral areas rather than city centres, as emphasised by Nunez. At the end of Friday, the routes proposed by the CGT and the “yellow‑vest” movement for a march in Paris were under judicial review. The Administrative Court had authorised a procession through the Place de la Bastille, a route the organisers wanted. The Interior Minister said the government would appeal the decision, arguing that the suspension of the march was justified by the damage and looting that occurred on 17 October. The Council of State, the competent authority, may issue a ruling during the night. Two days before the new protests, President Macron called for calm and accused far‑left groups of attempting to “bring down the Republic” during the recent disturbances, noting that the country is six months away from presidential elections. (AFP)
Article source: El Comercio | Image credit: El Comercio