Macron Warns of Further High-Risk Protest Days Across France
(MENAFN) French President Emmanuel Macron warned Monday that the coming Saturday remained a “high-risk day” amid continuing protests, as trade unions called for nationwide mobilization on Oct. 31.
"We know that next Saturday is still a high-risk day. We know that Nov. 5 will see a day of national mobilization involving all the trade unions, and there are also the other Saturdays ahead," Macron told reporters during a visit to Marseille.
He stressed that recurring unrest every Saturday was "not inevitable" and said authorities would continue taking measures to protect public spaces, residents and city centers.
Macron said he had instructed the government to address the "legitimate demands at the root of this social movement." He noted that Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu was scheduled to meet representatives of the high school community later Monday.
The president also indicated that the meeting would be followed by "significant announcements and progress aimed at bringing about changes now and launching initiatives in the very short term."
“We will do the same with trade unions and employers’ organizations, and so all of this must gradually return to normal, with respect," Macron added.
Reflecting on the protests held on Oct. 17, Macron acknowledged that security forces had been insufficiently deployed because authorities had not anticipated the scale and nature of the demonstrations.
"We had not anticipated that so many far-left groups would mobilize very early in the morning, in a highly unusual manner. (...) We had also not anticipated that, beyond the mobilization of the far left, criminal elements would join in. As a result, police forces were not deployed in sufficient numbers," he said.
Macron said authorities were "currently maintaining the Republic and public order without a state of emergency," dismissing criticism over the decision not to impose emergency measures and insisting that the government remained "rigorous and firm."
He also criticized the role of social media in organizing demonstrations and spreading images of violence.
"social media are damaging our democracies because they fuel polarization, create a kind of shock and paralysis in the face of scenes of violence," he said.
“They were used, particularly on Oct. 17, to bring young people and older people to places where criminal acts, attacks and looting were taking place, because violence on social media is being presented in a way that makes it seem unreal," he added.
"We know that next Saturday is still a high-risk day. We know that Nov. 5 will see a day of national mobilization involving all the trade unions, and there are also the other Saturdays ahead," Macron told reporters during a visit to Marseille.
He stressed that recurring unrest every Saturday was "not inevitable" and said authorities would continue taking measures to protect public spaces, residents and city centers.
Macron said he had instructed the government to address the "legitimate demands at the root of this social movement." He noted that Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu was scheduled to meet representatives of the high school community later Monday.
The president also indicated that the meeting would be followed by "significant announcements and progress aimed at bringing about changes now and launching initiatives in the very short term."
“We will do the same with trade unions and employers’ organizations, and so all of this must gradually return to normal, with respect," Macron added.
Reflecting on the protests held on Oct. 17, Macron acknowledged that security forces had been insufficiently deployed because authorities had not anticipated the scale and nature of the demonstrations.
"We had not anticipated that so many far-left groups would mobilize very early in the morning, in a highly unusual manner. (...) We had also not anticipated that, beyond the mobilization of the far left, criminal elements would join in. As a result, police forces were not deployed in sufficient numbers," he said.
Macron said authorities were "currently maintaining the Republic and public order without a state of emergency," dismissing criticism over the decision not to impose emergency measures and insisting that the government remained "rigorous and firm."
He also criticized the role of social media in organizing demonstrations and spreading images of violence.
"social media are damaging our democracies because they fuel polarization, create a kind of shock and paralysis in the face of scenes of violence," he said.
“They were used, particularly on Oct. 17, to bring young people and older people to places where criminal acts, attacks and looting were taking place, because violence on social media is being presented in a way that makes it seem unreal," he added.
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