Macron Tightens Security After Unrest as Lecornu Holds Talks with Political Parties
World
French authorities are stepping up preparations for a new protest scheduled for 24 October following violence and looting during demonstrations on 17 October. President Emmanuel Macron has convened a security council meeting with the prime minister, relevant ministers and intelligence services, while Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu is holding consultations with political parties and mayors of major cities.
The meeting at the Élysée Palace is expected to review intelligence and law enforcement operations, as well as why authorities underestimated the scale of the mobilisation. According to the Interior Ministry, around 550,000 people took to the streets on 17 October, while organisers put the figure at 800,000. Despite the deployment of nearly 60,000 law enforcement personnel, clashes, vandalism and arson occurred in several cities.
Security for the upcoming protest is set to be reinforced with additional police and gendarmes, specialist units including RAID, GIGN and BRI, and military personnel from Operation Sentinelle. Jean-Didier Berger, a junior minister attached to the Interior Ministry, said the number of law enforcement personnel would increase by 20% compared with 17 October.
At Matignon, Lecornu plans to discuss policing, public-order measures and the security of campaign events with parties represented in parliament. Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella of the National Rally, along with former prime minister Édouard Philippe, will not attend. La France Insoumise will be represented by coordinator Manuel Bompard. Party founder Jean-Luc Mélenchon said the movement would seek explanations and political answers.
Separate consultations are also planned with the mayors of Paris, Lyon and Marseille, three cities affected by the unrest. Grégory Doucet, Emmanuel Grégoire and Benoît Payan previously said some neighbourhoods had effectively been left unprotected. They called for an independent commission to review the public-order strategy and a nationwide solidarity fund to rebuild damaged infrastructure.
The planned protest will test the government’s ability to prevent further violence and restore confidence among local authorities and political parties.
Security for the upcoming protest is set to be reinforced with additional police and gendarmes, specialist units including RAID, GIGN and BRI, and military personnel from Operation Sentinelle. Jean-Didier Berger, a junior minister attached to the Interior Ministry, said the number of law enforcement personnel would increase by 20% compared with 17 October.
At Matignon, Lecornu plans to discuss policing, public-order measures and the security of campaign events with parties represented in parliament. Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella of the National Rally, along with former prime minister Édouard Philippe, will not attend. La France Insoumise will be represented by coordinator Manuel Bompard. Party founder Jean-Luc Mélenchon said the movement would seek explanations and political answers.
Separate consultations are also planned with the mayors of Paris, Lyon and Marseille, three cities affected by the unrest. Grégory Doucet, Emmanuel Grégoire and Benoît Payan previously said some neighbourhoods had effectively been left unprotected. They called for an independent commission to review the public-order strategy and a nationwide solidarity fund to rebuild damaged infrastructure.
The planned protest will test the government’s ability to prevent further violence and restore confidence among local authorities and political parties.
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