The French government, led by Emmanuel Macron, the President of the country, is planning to announce a series of "strong measures" to reduce tensions arising from protests that have affected France in recent weeks. Macron addressed this issue on Monday in the city of Marseille.
Warning About New Protests
Macron warned in his remarks that the new protests planned for the upcoming Saturday are "risky" and emphasized that protest routes should remain outside city centers to protect public order.
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The French Minister of the Interior, Laurent Nunez, told BFM television that he expects more disruptions on October 31. He noted, "Halloween night is traditionally always a bit chaotic" and added that the situation is expected to become complicated again.
Security Situation Analysis
Before Macron's arrival in Marseille, the Élysée Palace stated that the President intends to "pay tribute to and thank the internal security forces" who helped restore order in France's second-largest city. On October 17, protesters temporarily stormed the town hall building.
Macron admitted that French officials "did not anticipate at all" that the scale of the protests would reach this level and lead to widespread violence and looting in several major cities. He also referred to the role of social media in these protests, stating that these networks "harm our democracies."
The President of France described social media as "tools for mobilizing the worst motives" and emphasized that these platforms lure young people and others to places where criminal acts, assaults, and looting occur.
Macron also pointed to the role of extremist groups in these protests, stating that French security forces were surprised by the level of gathering of these forces on October 17. Minister Nunez mentioned the presence of organized right-wing groups that have confronted leftist activists in several cities.
Future Government Actions
A presidential advisor stated that Macron wants to show that "the government is present and is fulfilling its duty to protect the people." The President added that the curfew regulations helped maintain relative order during last Saturday's protests.
Macron has ordered the government, led by Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, to respond to the "legitimate requests" that are at the core of this social movement. He stated that the government will soon announce several "specific and significant measures" to address students' concerns regarding education and university admissions.
In conclusion, Macron said: "There are requests that need to be heard and addressed" and added that "to respond to these requests, a prerequisite for returning to calm is necessary. We cannot have an effective social dialogue in a violent atmosphere like we experienced last week."
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