
French President Emmanuel Macron stated that the recent riots that affected several cities in France were organized by far-left groups, which according to him aim to undermine the institutions of the French Republic.
After a meeting of the Security and Defense Council at the Elysee Palace, Macron said that some of the attacks and violent acts were planned and posed a serious threat to public order. He announced that authorities would take stronger security measures for future protests.
According to the French president, protests not organized by unions or recognized structures could be banned in the coming days. The government is also considering creating special routes for authorized marches, with the aim of protecting shops, businesses and public property.
Macron announced that another meeting of the Defense Council will be held to assess the situation and decide on additional measures ahead of the protests planned for the weekend.
He stressed that investigations would continue and that those involved in the violence would face justice. According to him, thousands of people had been detained by police and hundreds more had been imprisoned following clashes that erupted during the protests.
At the same time, the French government will continue dialogue with unions, political parties, student organizations and employer representatives to address social, economic and educational concerns, particularly those of young people.
Meanwhile, local authorities in Lyon banned all demonstrations planned for Saturday, following violent incidents last weekend. Similar decisions have been taken in certain areas of Paris and other cities.
During the riots, dozens of shops were looted, buildings were set on fire, and clashes with police were reported in Lyon. The city's mayor described the situation as several hours of chaos.
Protest organizers, including the "Yellow Vest" movement and several unions, have called for new nationwide protests and a general strike in early November.