PNN – A new wave of protests in France continues, with at least 40 fresh arrests reported as the “Yellow Vests” movement joins the demonstrations.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network; the newspaper Der Standard reports the onset of a new wave of student protests in France—amid a heavy police presence and various restrictions—noting that widespread protests against the high cost of living and social inequality have erupted across the country.
Tens of thousands of people are expected to participate in hundreds of demonstrations across the country today, Saturday. In Paris, a heavy police presence is visible in the city center, particularly around landmarks such as the Champs-Élysées and the Arc de Triomphe. The largest demonstration began at noon today at the Place de la République.
Earlier, a ban on demonstrations had been issued for parts of the city.
In Paris, about 100 protesters stormed the headquarters of the television station CNews, which belongs to the media group owned by the right-wing French billionaire Vincent Bolloré. Police reported that 21 people were arrested for throwing objects at the building’s windows.
According to reports, police in the French capital also used tear gas against protesters. Police stated that another 40 individuals were arrested for carrying protective gear or prohibited weapons.
In the Rennes area of Brittany, about 20 people set up roadblocks near a shopping center. In Lyon, according to authorities, approximately 40 people attempted to block traffic on a bridge. Others gathered near an oil refinery.
In Marseille, police dispersed a crowd that was attempting to set up a blockade. Trash cans were also set on fire.
According to an Agence France-Presse (AFP) reporter, other demonstrators in Marseille attempted to attack a police station.
These protests began last month in schools located in the impoverished suburbs north of Paris. There, discontent over a shortage of teachers and dilapidated buildings quickly evolved into a nationwide movement against declining living standards and a lack of public investment.
Sources close to French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez have indicated that unrest is expected, particularly in Paris and other major French cities. The French government fears an escalation in violence.
The French Interior Ministry has stated that the blocking of “major, central transport routes and key facilities” will not be tolerated.
In the event of “very serious riots,” the French Interior Minister did not rule out the use of sound grenades. The use of these devices had previously been suspended following serious incidents during student protests.
French President Emmanuel Macron also called for calm on Friday. Speaking at a European Union summit in Brussels, he emphasized that the right to demonstrate must be exercised respectfully, without “insults” or “rioting.”
French Minister of the Armed Forces Sébastien Lecornu also announced on Thursday that authorities were preparing for potential unrest.
The government accuses the far-left party “France Unbowed” (LFI) of inciting the protests—a claim the party denies. These unrests evoke memories of the 2018 “Yellow Vests” movement, which began over fuel tax hikes and subsided only after billions of euros in tax cuts were granted.
According to calls circulating on social media, many former activists from that movement have now joined these new protests in France.
Recent protests have been marked by significant violence. According to Lecornu, more than 900 police officers have been injured. At the same time, the police are facing criticism for their aggressive tactics.
France is currently in a period of political and economic tension. Emmanuel Macron is nearing the end of his presidential term.
Given the high national debt and political fragmentation, investors are shunning French government bonds, pushing the country’s borrowing costs to their highest level in over two decades.