France's Macron tightens curbs on protests, blaming hard left for unrest
Macron said union-backed marches may proceed as authorities impose bans and curfews after last weekend’s unrest left 2,500 people arrested, officials said.
- On Thursday, October 22, 2026, President Emmanuel Macron announced that 'illegitimate' protests would be banned, permitting only union-organized demonstrations on Saturday, October 24, to restore order following nationwide riots.
- Nationwide cost-of-living protests on October 17 drew hundreds of thousands but were overshadowed by severe urban unrest; Macron attributed the violence to 'seditious' ultra-left groups attempting to 'bring down the Republic.'
- Authorities arrested at least 2,500 people since the disorder began, while Interior Minister delegate Jean-Didier Berger announced a 20% increase in law enforcement and elite police units for the weekend.
- A Paris administrative court suspended a police ban on a student-led march, while opposition figures Marine Le Pen and Jean-Luc Melenchon traded blame over government authority and police conduct.
- Heightened investor anxiety pushed France's 10-year borrowing costs to 5%, while traders on prediction markets estimate a 23% chance of a state of emergency before January 1, 2027.
339 Articles
339 Articles
Only demonstrations organised by trade unions will be allowed on Saturday. The left has also come out disappointed at a meeting in Matignon dealing only with the maintenance of order.
The violence of the protests is caused by radical left groups, accuses the French President. Demonstrations will have to be authorized and some have already been suspended.
‘No more demonstrations!’: Macron cracks down after France looting, bans ‘illegitimate’ protests
French President Emmanuel Macron has vowed to crack down on “illegitimate” demonstrations as France grapples with looting, street violence and growing anger over the cost of living and public services.
Macron returns to Paris to quash riots he blames on ‘organized ultra-left groups’
French President Emmanuel Macron returned from his visit to the Gulf states this week triumphant, having secured a deal that would provide his country with an additional 200,000 metric tons of diesel per month. But the timing of his trip — right in the middle of violent and destructive riots that have thrust France into the global spotlight — was counterproductive for projecting an image of control. Macron has stood by his decision to go through…
The Prefecture of the Department of Bush-du-Ron banned all demonstrations in French Marseilles and imposed a curfew in the city, reported the regional newspaper La Provence. The ban on demonstrations is extended to the entire department. Marseilles will also impose a curfew on Sunday night and Monday night. The restriction will be from 23:00 to 05:00 local time, writes TASS with reference to La Promotion. Also on Saturday, fuel transport will be…
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