French authorities have imposed bans or restrictions on protests planned for Saturday October 24th after the country witnessed some of its worst street violence in years at previous events. However, officially organised events including a demo in Paris have been given the go-ahead.
President Emmanuel Macron said, after chairing a meeting of key ministers and intelligence officials, that curfews and other security measures would be imposed, including bans on "groups without legitimacy" holding protests.
"The priority is a return to calm," he said, adding that he would chair a defence council meeting of key ministers on Friday to decide "the next steps" for new nationwide demonstrations called for Saturday, October 24th and afterwards.
Officials are still reeling from the clashes, widespread looting and vandalism of public buildings that broke out on October 17th, on the margins of mass demonstrations of more than half a million people against the surging cost of living.
Macron's government has admitted police lost control, and candidates jockeying to succeed him in presidential elections in six months' time argue that authorities are incapable or unwilling to calm the situation.
The worst of the violence, Macron said, "was led by organised ultra-left groups aiming to bring down the republic".
Protests banned
A Paris protest on Thursday organised by students - who had held four weeks of protests before the October 17th rallies - was banned by the capital's police.
Local authorities on Thursday also declared a ban on "all protests" in the southwestern city of Lyon on Saturday.
France's third-biggest city suffered the looting of 200 to 300 shops last weekend and the torching of a tourist office in what its mayor described as hours of "chaos".
Other cities, including Grenoble, Rouen, Le Havre and Toulon, issued bans on protests in their city centres.
The government says it wants to give priority to demos announced by official groups such as unions or political parties, rather than groups like the 'yellow vests', who are largely internet-based and without formal leadership.
However, the decision on allowing demos, and on the routes allowed, ultimately falls to local authorities. Groups can also seek a fast-track legal challenge over the bans.
Routes changed
In Paris, the city's police said on Thursday that the march planned by the CGT union for Saturday could be held in the east of the capital, starting at Bastille and finishing at Nation.
However, a 'yellow vest' march planned to go through more central parts of Paris was banned. The Yellow Vest movement organising the cost-of-living rallies along with unions said it did not agree with the order.
"We won't sign off on it," said Benjamin Ball, who runs an online map showing the planned locations of Saturday's demonstrations.
READ ALSO: MAPS: The route for the Paris protest marches on October 24th
Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin said Wednesday that 174 people of the 2,500 arrested since last weekend had been locked up, and more than 900 were being prosecuted.
On Thursday, a 66-year-old man was arrested over the arson last weekend of the 19th-century town hall of Limoges, prosecutors said. A man in his 30s was already arrested on Tuesday over the same crime.
Some decisions may change before Saturday - you can find all the latest in our Protests section here