Authorities in Paris have banned demonstrations in several major areas of the French capital as the government struggles to contain violent unrest that has shaken the country and raised concerns about its political and economic stability.
The restrictions, announced on Wednesday, came as President Emmanuel Macron appeared to criticise US President Donald Trump for using France’s unrest to advance his political agenda ahead of America’s midterm elections.
The Paris protest ban runs from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday and covers several important locations, including the Elysee presidential palace, both chambers of parliament, the Louvre Museum and the Champs-Elysees.
Other affected areas include Bastille and Republique squares, as well as the Chatelet-Les Halles shopping district, which was heavily targeted by looters over the weekend.
The measures follow some of the worst street violence France has experienced in years. Masked youths clashed with police, looted businesses and vandalised public buildings, prompting the government to acknowledge that it had lost control during the unrest.
With the crisis damaging France’s international reputation and unsettling financial markets just months before presidential elections, Macron has accused foreign political leaders of exploiting the situation for their own benefit.
Speaking to reporters in Doha, he appeared to target Trump and possibly Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, saying some leaders were making “stupid comments” about the unrest while campaigning.
“There are people who campaign at France’s expense — leaders who are in campaign mode, whether here in the region or on the other side of the Atlantic,” Macron said.
Trump has attempted to link the French unrest to migrants, jihadists and communists while campaigning for his Republican Party in the United States. His anti-immigration messaging has been a central part of his political campaign.
On Tuesday, Trump also praised French far-right leader Marine Le Pen, who shares several of his political positions.
Le Pen responded on Wednesday by describing Macron’s remarks as “conspiratorial” in a post on X.
“The images we saw last Saturday are not generated by artificial intelligence: they show the sad reality of what France has become after 10 years of Macronist rule,” she wrote.
Le Pen, who is leading in polls ahead of France’s 2027 presidential election, has blamed Macron’s leadership for the country’s problems. However, several analysts have rejected claims that migrants are driving the protests.
Fresh Demonstrations Face Restrictions
The violence has overshadowed demonstrations held last Saturday, when more than 500,000 people reportedly took to the streets across France to protest against the rising cost of living.
Those rallies followed four weeks of student protests that forced numerous schools to close.
With more cost-of-living demonstrations planned for Saturday, Macron’s government has warned that it will not tolerate further violence.
Authorities have also prohibited fresh demonstrations planned by high school and university students in Paris and Lyon, a major city in southeastern France.
Following a meeting with Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu on Wednesday, Sophie Binet, leader of the hardline CGT trade union, called for a “new phase” of protests, including strikes early next month.
Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin disclosed that 2,500 people had been taken into custody during and after the unrest. Of those, 174 had been jailed, while another 917 had been formally prosecuted.
The government is facing growing pressure to restore order as the unrest continues to threaten public confidence and disrupt daily life.
France’s Financial Markets Under Pressure
The crisis has also unsettled investors already concerned about France’s growing public debt and budget deficit.
On Wednesday, the yield on France’s benchmark 10-year government bond rose above five per cent as investors demanded higher returns amid concerns about the country’s finances.
Credit ratings agency Moody’s was also expected to downgrade France’s public debt rating on Friday, adding to the pressure on the government.
France’s unrest has coincided with smaller incidents in neighbouring Italy and Belgium. In Italy, authorities ordered 500 troops to Milan to help contain street violence.
Curfews introduced in several cities have helped calm the situation, but they have also disrupted access to some late-night public transport services.
One Paris commuter, identified only as Louis, described the situation as “quite disconcerting” after finding his train line closed.
However, he supported the restrictions if they could prevent further destruction, saying: “if it can prevent further acts of vandalism… then yes, I think it’s a good thing”.
Yellow Vest Movement Plans Another March
Despite the restrictions, the Yellow Vest movement, which was behind last weekend’s demonstrations, announced on Wednesday that it planned to organise another march in Paris on Saturday.
The march is scheduled to begin at Bastille Square, with further nationwide demonstrations planned for November 5.
The coming days will test the government’s ability to maintain public order while responding to widespread anger over living costs.
With protest restrictions expanding, political tensions rising and financial markets showing signs of concern, France faces mounting pressure to prevent further unrest from deepening the country’s political and economic challenges.
