France to ban demonstrations not organised by trade unions

France will ban demonstrations not organised by trade unions in the coming days, particularly on Saturday, President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday after a security council meeting. Anadolu Agency reported the announcement.

Macron said prefects would prohibit requests to demonstrate or gather from groups that lacked legitimacy to make such requests. Trade unions, by contrast, would submit applications to hold demonstrations across the country, which prefects would examine.

“The prefects will propose alternative routes when requests come from trade union organisations. When they do not come from trade union organisations, demonstrations will be banned wherever possible to restore calm and protect businesses and public buildings,” Macron said.

He acknowledged “failures in anticipation and elements of surprise” during nationwide protests last weekend over the cost of living and fuel prices.

Prefects had already taken several measures where necessary, including banning gatherings and demonstrations and imposing curfews, Macron said. He added that events on Wednesday night had again demonstrated the need for those measures.

Macron said more in-depth investigations were under way. He also said authorities had recently witnessed “both political and even seditious acts carried out by organised far-left groups seeking to bring down the Republic”.

He announced that he would convene a defence council on Friday to ensure preparations were properly made and to take additional decisions.