Paris. 1,300 people were arrested in France on Saturday. Millions of people participated in the demonstration. France has said it will deploy around 70,000 security personnel across the country to contain possible protests and clashes this weekend.
Demonstrations started by secondary level students expressing dissatisfaction with the school environment and educational conditions have become nationwide. The situation has become more tense as the public’s dissatisfaction with rising inflation and the cost of living has been added to the movement. At a press conference held in Paris, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez informed that around 70,000 security personnel will be mobilized. He said messages inciting violence and looting were being spread through social media and urged people to be aware of possible unrest.
The protests have intensified as President Emmanuel Macron’s term comes to an end and new elections are just six months away. A recent poll shows far-right leader Marine Le Pen leading the presidential race. It is estimated that the recent developments have strengthened his political position.
Meanwhile, Le Pen’s National Rally (RN) party is holding a convention in the city of Orleans this weekend. Thousands of supporters are expected to attend the event. The local administration is worried about a possible clash as groups protesting against the party are also preparing to gather in the same city. On Friday, President Macron had a discussion with secondary school student representatives. However, after the meeting, the student representative has called on his classmates to continue the protest until the government comes up with a concrete proposal to address the demand.
The Macron government has said that the legitimate demands of the protesters and the incidents of looting, arson and vandalism that happened last Saturday should be looked at separately. According to Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin, the court sent 217 people to prison in the case related to last Saturday’s violence. About half of them are first-time offenders.
On Thursday, President Macron called for tougher action against criminal activity. He also accused far-left groups of trying to topple the republic itself last weekend. A far-left group active in the western region of France called on supporters on its website to avoid police cordons and to behave erratically.
Authorities have tightened security and banned demonstrations in various cities to contain potential violence. Between 20,000 and 30,000 people are expected to take to the streets in Orleans against the National Rally Party. However, the local administration has said that the protesters will not be allowed to gather in the city center.
In the southeastern city of Lyon, protesters will also be barred from entering the main urban area this weekend. In Paris, police have revoked permits for trade union-led demonstrations between the Bastille and the Chowk, which had previously been approved. The police said that instead, a procession can be taken out in the afternoon through the southeast edge of the city. However, the labor organizations have taken a stand to proceed through the route where the approval has been revoked, saying that there is a security risk in the alternative route.
Demonstrations were also banned in the southern city of Marseille. However, on Friday, authorities decided to allow a demonstration organized by a labor organization based on special circumstances. It is the only exhibit approved in the southern Bouches-du-Rhône department. Human rights organizations have criticized the government’s move, including a blanket ban on demonstrations in various cities.
Amnesty International has condemned these moves as tending towards dictatorial practices. According to the organization, such restrictions could jeopardize the right of citizens to demonstrate peacefully. After last week’s violence, questions have also been raised about police preparedness, intelligence gathering and crowd control ability. Eva Kosse, senior Europe researcher at Human Rights Watch, said it is the responsibility of the police to ensure an environment for peaceful demonstrations and protect civilians from violent incidents. He also expressed concern over reports of children being seriously injured due to weapons used during crowd control during recent demonstrations.
The violence during the demonstration has also affected France’s international image. The upcoming elections are seen as a turning point in the country’s modern history. Along with this, the increasing debt burden of the government has also increased the concern of investors. According to a poll conducted by Harris Interactive for M6/RTL after the violence, Marine Le Pen is expected to win 33 to 35 percent of the vote in the first round of the presidential election.
The survey shows that far-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon could become Le Pen’s opponent in the second round of competition. In that case, the survey estimates that Le Pen can easily win with about 70 percent of the votes. The upcoming elections in France are expected to have a significant impact on the country’s political direction. RSS/AFP