France Bans 'Illegitimate' Protests to Stop Recent Violence

President Emmanuel Macron has announced that "illegitimate" demonstrations will be banned across France in the coming days. This move comes as the government tries to regain control after some of the worst street violence in years. The unrest began after peaceful protests about the cost of living turned into violent riots last weekend.

According to The Guardian, the president stated that protests organized by recognized groups, such as trade unions, may still be allowed to happen. However, these groups might be required to change their planned routes. Requests for demonstrations from individuals or groups without official authority will now be rejected. Macron described these new rules as "commonsense" measures needed to protect city centers, local businesses, and public buildings.

The president blamed much of the recent damage on people who came to the protests specifically to loot. He also claimed that the most serious violence was caused by "ultra far-left groups" who wanted to harm the republic. To manage the situation, the government has already introduced partial night-time curfews in parts of several cities, including Paris. Additionally, authorities have banned gatherings in sensitive areas, such as the streets near the parliament, major train stations, and the Élysée presidential palace.

Local authorities in several cities have taken independent action to stop the violence. In Lyon, France’s third-largest city, all protests have been banned for Saturday. This decision follows reports that between 200 and 300 shops were looted last weekend, and the local tourist office was set on fire. Similar bans have been announced for Marseille, Nice, and Toulon. In Paris, a planned march starting at the Place de la Bastille was allowed, but it was forbidden from entering the city center. Meanwhile, a separate march planned by students and members of the "yellow vests" movement—a group known for their protests over fuel prices in 2018 and 2019—was completely denied permission.

The government’s response has been strict. The justice minister, Gérald Darmanin, reported that 2,500 people have been arrested since the rioting began. Of those, 174 are being held in custody, and more than 900 are facing prosecution. In one extreme case, two people were arrested after the town hall in Limoges was set on fire. Businesses across the country are now preparing for more potential trouble by boarding up their windows and hiring private security teams.

Despite the government's efforts, the situation remains tense. While a court overturned an initial police ban on a student protest in Paris, other marches in cities like Grenoble, Rouen, Le Havre, and Toulon were successfully stopped by authorities. The prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, is currently holding meetings with leaders from major political parties to listen to their views and encourage cooperation. He is also meeting with mayors from large cities to discuss how to keep their communities safe.

The current wave of unrest has deep roots. The demonstrations originally began last month at a high school in Créteil, located south-east of Paris. Students were protesting against staff shortages and the poor condition of their school buildings. Since then, the movement has grown and changed, leading to the current national crisis. President Macron has called for a special meeting of key ministers to decide on the next steps for any demonstrations planned for Saturday and beyond. The government’s main goal remains a "return to calm" as they try to balance the right to protest with the need to keep the public safe from violence.