Frankfurt (Germany), 31 Oct. (LaPresse) – France is bracing for a third consecutive weekend of protests against the cost of living and conditions in state education, with 70,000 police officers and gendarmes mobilised across the country. The authorities fear possible unrest, particularly as it coincides with Halloween celebrations. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez has warned that the risk of violence is “very high”, particularly in the evening and at night. In Paris, the police have banned trade union and ‘yellow vest’ demonstrations in the city centre, imposing a single route along the outlying boulevards, from Porte de Bagnolet to Porte de Charenton. Trade unions and student organisations have challenged the restrictions in court. President Emmanuel Macron had stated on Monday that marches would be kept out of city centres to protect shops. Demonstrations have also been banned between 11 pm and 6 am on Saturday and Sunday nights at the Place de la République and in the Les Halles area, both of which were the scene of looting and unrest on 17 October. A curfew from 9 pm has been imposed on unaccompanied minors in the Champs-Élysées area, after a Paris court on Wednesday suspended a previous similar measure, ruling it to be a serious and unlawful restriction on freedom of movement. The security operation for this weekend includes, in addition to 70,000 officers, specialist units, drones, helicopters, dog units, 26 armoured vehicles and 15 water cannons.
France: third weekend of protests, 70,000 police officers deployed
Frankfurt (Germany), 31 Oct. (LaPresse) – France is bracing for a third consecutive weekend of protests against the cost of living and conditions in state education, with 70,000 police officers and gendarmes mobilised across the country. The authorities fear possible unrest, particularly as it coincides with Halloween celebrations. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez has warned that the risk of violence is “very high”, particularly in the evening and at night. In Paris, the police have banned trade union and ‘yellow vest’ demonstrations in the city centre, imposing a single route along the outlying boulevards, from Porte de Bagnolet to Porte de Charenton. Trade unions and student organisations have challenged the restrictions in court. President Emmanuel Macron had stated on Monday that marches would be kept out of city centres to protect shops. Demonstrations have also been banned between 11 pm and 6 am on Saturday and Sunday nights at the Place de la République and in the Les Halles area, both of which were the scene of looting and unrest on 17 October. A curfew from 9 pm has been imposed on unaccompanied minors in the Champs-Élysées area, after a Paris court on Wednesday suspended a previous similar measure, ruling it to be a serious and unlawful restriction on freedom of movement. The security operation for this weekend includes, in addition to 70,000 officers, specialist units, drones, helicopters, dog units, 26 armoured vehicles and 15 water cannons.