France tightens security in anticipation of weekend protests

Gatherings banned and curfews extended as cities lock down in bid to avert more unrest.

French authorities are seeking to prevent the return of the violent protests seen last weekend (File: AFP)

French authorities have announced tightened security measures in a bid to prevent a repeat of violent unrest during protests last weekend.

President Emmanuel Macron was due to hold a meeting on Friday with his defence council, made up of top ministers and officials, and to meet security forces, as cities across the country confirmed limits on gatherings and public transport.

list 1 of 3 Macron blames ‘seditious’ far left for unrest as France bans some protests

list 2 of 3 Why is Gen Z revolting?

list 3 of 3 Macron to meet student groups: Where are France’s protests heading?

Macron’s announcement on Thursday that only union demonstrations would be authorised at the weekend has prompted harsh criticism from student groups whose demonstrations in recent weeks against conditions in schools were joined by groups denouncing high living costs and other grievances.

More than half a million people gathered across France last Saturday for demonstrations that spiralled into violence and looting.

Paris has extended a nighttime curfew until Monday, while Marseille and Lyon have banned gatherings, introduced curfews, and restricted public transport for this coming Saturday.

Police deployments will also be increased by 20 percent compared with last weekend, after the government was accused of being blindsided by the scale of the unrest.

Macron, who has blamed “seditious” ultra-left groups for the unrest, is due to announce “additional decisions” following the defence council meeting, his office said.

‘Trampling on freedoms’

Despite the restrictions, France’s main student union, UNEF, has called ⁠⁠for rallies on Saturday. The Yellow Vest movement, an anti-establishment force that first emerged in 2018 and re-entered the French political consciousness last weekend, has filed plans for a march through central Paris.

Macron was due to meet student representatives later on Friday to discuss their plans, but UNEF said their rallies would go ahead.

“Macron is trampling upon the freedom to protest in our country, and is spitting on the values of the republic he claims to defend,” UNEF said.

Shops and businesses in major cities have been urged to close. The Louvre and the Louis Vuitton Foundation will be closed on Saturday, while the Paris edition of the Art Basel fair will end on Friday, two days ahead of schedule.

Since last Saturday’s violence, 2,700 people have been arrested, according to the Ministry of Justice.

为避免更多动乱，各城市实施封锁，禁止集会，延长宵禁时间。

法国当局正努力防止上周末出现的暴力抗议活动再次发生（图片来源：法新社）

法国当局宣布加强安保措施，以防止上周末抗议活动中发生的暴力骚乱再次发生。

法国总统埃马纽埃尔·马克龙原定于周五与由高级部长和官员组成的国防委员会举行会议，并会见安全部队，与此同时，全国各地的城市都确认了对集会和公共交通的限制。

列表1/3：马克龙指责“煽动性”极左翼煽动骚乱，法国禁止部分抗议活动

问题 2（共 3 题）：Z 世代为何反抗？

马克龙将与学生团体会面（共3项）：法国的抗议活动将走向何方？

马克龙周四宣布，周末只允许工会示威游行，这一决定引发了学生团体的强烈批评。近几周来，这些学生团体举行示威游行，抗议学校的恶劣条件，同时还有一些团体也加入了抗议高昂生活成本和其他不满的行列。

上周六，超过50万人在法国各地聚集示威游行，随后演变成暴力和抢劫事件。

巴黎已将夜间宵禁延长至周一，而马赛和里昂则禁止集会，实施宵禁，并限制本周六的公共交通。

与上周末相比，警方部署也将增加 20%，此前政府被指责对骚乱的规模措手不及。

马克龙将骚乱归咎于“煽动性”的极左翼团体，他的办公室表示，马克龙将在国防委员会会议后宣布“更多决定”。

“践踏自由”

尽管受到限制，法国主要学生组织UNEF仍呼吁民众在周六举行集会。“黄背心”运动是一股反建制力量，该运动最初于2018年兴起，并在上周末再次引起法国政治关注。该运动已提交计划，将在巴黎市中心举行游行。

马克龙原定于周五晚些时候会见学生代表，讨论他们的计划，但UNEF表示他们的集会将照常进行。

“马克龙正在践踏我国的抗议自由，并践踏他声称要捍卫的共和国价值观，”联合国欧洲论坛表示。

各大城市的商店和企业已被敦促关闭。卢浮宫和路易威登基金会将于周六关闭，而巴黎巴塞尔艺术展将提前两天于周五结束。

据司法部称，自上周六的暴力事件以来，已有 2700 人被捕。