Brief
French leftists schedule major Paris protest as Macron vows no repeat of weekend riots
Yellow Vest and student groups aim to rally in central Paris on Saturday, amid heightened security and Macron's pledge to prevent further unrest.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Left‑wing organisations in France are organising a large march across central Paris for Saturday, according to the New York Post. The protest follows violent demonstrations last weekend that saw almost 2,500 arrests and widespread looting.
What happened
The "Gilets Jaunes" (Yellow Vests) movement, which emerged in 2018, presented a plan on Wednesday for a march that will pass through areas that experienced recent vandalism. Student groups are also joining the rally, demanding increased education spending, which they say sparked the earlier unrest.
What the reports add
The article notes that President Emmanuel Macron, currently in Qatar for a meeting with Gulf leaders, told reporters that anyone seeking to cause disorder in city centres on Saturday will be stopped, adding that the state must not waver. Macron also blamed foreign leaders, including former U.S. President Donald Trump, for spreading misinformation about the French unrest.
What was said
Macron said, "Those who want to cause disorder in city centers next Saturday will be prevented from doing so," and added, "We don’t need that. We already have difficulties to deal with." The New York Post reports that Macron made the comments while addressing reporters in Qatar. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, meeting union leaders, said the government would guarantee "the indispensable freedom to demonstrate" while also deploying additional police and the army on the weekend.
How it came about
The planned march follows a weekend of unrest that left almost 2,500 people arrested and numerous stores looted across France. Earlier coverage by Felo News detailed the riots that erupted after Macron attended a Celine Dion concert, the deployment of troops to Paris, and the emergency address the president gave to the nation. Those events set the backdrop for the current call for a new demonstration.
Key facts
- Left‑wing groups plan a major march in central Paris on Saturday. (nypost.com)
- President Macron, speaking from Qatar, pledged to prevent any disorder during the protest. (nypost.com)
- Almost 2,500 people were arrested during the previous weekend's unrest. (nypost.com)
- Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said the government will ensure the freedom to demonstrate while deploying extra police and the army. (nypost.com)
Sources
- [1] nypost.com — originally reported as “French leftists plan major Paris protest Saturday as absent Macron vows no repeat to riots”
