French unions and Yellow Vests plan Paris protests on 24 October and a 5 November strike

Weekend march planned

Paris is preparing for a second round of Yellow Vests protests on Saturday, 24 October. A spokesperson told Paris police that demonstrators intend to gather from midday into the early afternoon, marching from Bastille to the Opera. Police had not yet said whether they accept that route or will propose a different one. The movement's core demands are a freeze on prices for basic goods, petrol and natural gas.

The preparations follow violent protests on 17 October that turned into looting in several French cities, mainly Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Limoges. Authorities are responding with strict limits on movement and public gatherings, with Paris at the centre of the measures. The army is preparing to go onto the streets to support the available forces in preventing further looting and damage.

Unions and the government

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu received representatives of five unions on Wednesday, 21 October: CFDT, CGT, FO, CFTC and CFE-CGC. In a letter to those organisations, he said the aim was to discuss how to guarantee the freedom to demonstrate, which he said some people were trying to undermine by linking it to unacceptable acts. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez was due to attend the meeting. The CFDT and CGT expressed regret that high school student organisations were absent, while Lecornu planned to present answers on timetables, replacements, building renovation and Parcoursup.

The CGT said the government had announced no measures to the union representatives and expressed regret that their demands had not been examined. The CGT has called a general strike for 5 November and has asked students and pupils to join the protests that day. Its leader, Sophie Binet, also urged young people to take part in the 24 October mobilisation wearing red vests, and asked union members to help keep order during the demonstrations. Students' organisations have called their own demonstrations on the same Saturday to demand more funding for education.

Overnight curfew in Paris

Police announced on Wednesday afternoon a fresh overnight restriction in specific parts of Paris, in force from 23:00 on Wednesday, 21 October until 06:00 on Thursday, 22 October. The order, published on the X platform, bars the presence of adults and minors in the Place de la République and Les Halles areas during those hours. The French education minister is due to present a first set of government decisions on education and youth movement demands on Monday, 26 October.

Markets and security plans

The yield on the French 10-year benchmark bond reached 5% in the week of 19 October, its highest level since July 2002. Investors fear that social unrest will make it harder for the government to repair strained public finances. President Emmanuel Macron said he would meet the intelligence services on Thursday, 22 October, ahead of the new mobilisations. Ministers have promised a reinforced security plan and acknowledged weaknesses in the initial response of the authorities. Police forces were caught off guard by the scale of the clashes at the previous weekend's protests in Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Limoges.