France protests: Macron urges calm amid violence fears

President Emmanuel Macron called for calm before nationwide cost-of-living protests planned across France on Saturday, as authorities warned of possible violence and Paris police banned demonstrations in key central areas.

The Yellow Vest movement has called the rallies “yellow and youth” demonstrations and appealed to teachers, students, workers, pensioners and farmers to join. Organisers have listed more than 600 planned demonstrations across France.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez told France 2 television that officials expected a large turnout. A police source told AFP that authorities estimated nearly 200,000 people could take part nationwide, including 40,000 in Paris.

Macron, speaking in Brussels during European Union talks, said the right to protest must come with “respect for people and property”. A government spokeswoman said Macron had described students’ demands as “legitimate” but believed they were being exploited for political purposes.

Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has ordered a crisis cell to monitor the rallies. He said on Thursday that he feared clashes after what he called “urban violence” during recent student protests.

Paris police chief Patrice Faure banned demonstrations around the Elysee presidential palace, the prime minister’s office and the Champs-Elysees, among other locations. Police also banned a major march through the centre of Paris, and talks with organisers over an alternative route did not produce an agreement.

The main Paris demonstration was scheduled to start at Republique square at 2:00 pm and move toward northern Paris.

Nunez said officers could use stun grenades in cases of “extremely serious urban violence”. He had suspended their use during the student protests after one stun grenade blew off the hand of a 15-year-old.

An interior ministry official, speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, said disturbances were expected, especially in Paris and other large cities, and cited a risk of violence from “the ultra-left movement”. The official said blockades of major roads or essential facilities would not be tolerated.

The protests come after weeks of student demonstrations and before France’s two-round presidential election in April and May. Far-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon has backed the student protests, while Marine Le Pen has positioned her National Rally party on the side of police.