France to ban illegitimate protests following violent unrest across the nation

French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Thursday, October 22, that illegitimate protests will be banned in France over the coming days. The Guardian and The Jerusalem Post both report that the decision follows severe street violence that broke out on the fringes of cost of living protests over the weekend. Speaking after a meeting with intelligence chiefs and senior ministers, Macron stated that demonstrations organised by recognised groups will still be permitted to go ahead. [1][5][6]

The French government is tightening security controls after experiencing some of the worst street violence in recent years. Reuters, Al Jazeera, and The Jerusalem Post all reported that Macron blamed ultra-left, hard-left, and seditious groups for driving the unrest. The Guardian reported that Macron plans to decide on concrete next steps regarding the demonstrations on Friday as part of a broader security response. [1][2][4][5]

The financial sector and local businesses have also felt the impact of the disruption. CNBC reported that French bond markets are facing building pressure amid the unrest. Fox News reported that a French business owner had five family stores destroyed by looters and warned authorities of growing insecurity ahead of another planned weekend of demonstrations. [7][9]

As FTMQ News reported earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron previously criticized foreign politicians, including Donald Trump, for making unacceptable comments about the riots while speaking during an official visit to Doha, Qatar. Additionally, Socialist Party MEP Jean-Marc Germain called the public order situation a big failure of the government, though he rejected calls for Macron to resign. [14][15]

French authorities are preparing for the fallout from fast-tracked rioting court cases and further potential demonstrations over the coming weekend. According to the Guardian, the president will outline the government's concrete next measures on Friday. [1]