France’s prime minister was to meet union leaders on Wednesday as the country prepares for new protests following those last weekend that descended into the worst riots seen in years.
Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has vowed a “massive” police deployment for the fresh demonstrations called for Saturday by the Yellow Vest movement.
His government has admitted its law enforcement officers “lost control” of the violence unleashed last weekend, when nationwide marches against high inflation devolved into clashes, vandalism of public buildings and looting.
Since then, authorities have ordered partial curfews in parts of Paris and other cities to prevent further scenes of violence.
The curfews meant many commuters could not take their regular urban rail services back home, but some late Tuesday said they understood.
“It’s quite disconcerting,” said one who gave only his first name, Louis, when he found his line closed. But “if it can prevent further acts of vandalism… then yes, I think it’s a good thing”, he said.
France’s unrest — coming on top of weeks of student protests — has unsettled financial markets, with the Paris stock market and government bonds falling on Monday.
On Friday, the Moody’s ratings agency is expected to lower its grade on France’s public debt, which is one of the highest in the EU compared with GDP.
France’s neighbours Italy and Belgium have started to experience similar unrest, on a smaller scale. Italy’s government has ordered 500 troops to Milan to stem street violence there.
France’s woes are compounded by the fact that President Emmanuel Macron is in his final months of office.
Far-left and far-right politicians vying to succeed him in April-May elections have little interest in cooperating with his government.political landscape is so fragmented that Lecornu has little chance of winning parliamentary consensus, not even for a cost-cutting budget that needs to be adopted before the end of this year.
Lecornu will meet with representatives from five unions on Wednesday to discuss “ways and means to guarantee the essential freedom to demonstrate” according to a letter sent to the organisations.
It alleged that some were attempting to subvert the protests with “unacceptable acts”.