Only labour unions allowed to protest tomorrow: Emmanuel Macron

French President Emmanuel Macron said his government will aim to allow only protest marches by labour unions Saturday to prevent a repeat of last weekend's violent demonstrations.

"In cases where it's not unions, we'll ban them wherever we can," Macron said in a speech Thursday following a meeting with top security officials. Macron is trying to avoid any demonstrations but said unions would be permitted to protest the rising cost of living along specific routes agreed with the police.

Macron acknowledged "planning failings and elements of surprise" last Saturday, when protests drew more than half a million people and degenerated into vandalism. Rioters attacked public buildings and looted stores in cities. Macron blamed seditious acts led by organised ultra-left groups that seek to bring down the republic, alongside acts of delinquency.


Defence council MEET TODAY

Macron also said that he would convene a meeting of key ministers ahead of weekend demonstrations, after earlier protests descended into some of the country's worst street violence in years.

"A defence council meeting will be convened tomorrow (Friday) under my chairmanship, and we will take further decisions," Macron said, adding that only union-organised protests would be authorised during nationwide demonstrations on Saturday.

More demonstrations

Dozens of protesters took to the Paris streets on Thursday despite bans on demonstrations ordered in multiple French cities.

Organizers of the Paris protest said an administrative court in the city overturned a ban issued by police. The Paris police prefecture previously said the ban was necessary, given the risk of street violence after groups of masked youth clashed with police forces, looted shops and torched cars over the weekend. The Paris court ruling was not immediately made public.