Macron Restricts French Protests to Union Demos

President Emmanuel Macron has announced that only demonstrations organized at the request of trade unions will be authorized across France on Saturday, following violent unrest and looting during nationwide protests over living costs last weekend. The decision comes after multiple cities, including Paris, Lyon, and Nice, experienced clashes between protesters and police, with significant damage to businesses and public property. Macron attributed the recent violence to radical far-left groups and criminal actors, stating that their actions threatened public order and the Republic. Authorities have also imposed curfews in several cities and banned planned protests viewed as potentially disorderly, a move some critics say infringes on the right to protest. According to officials, these strict measures are intended to protect city centers, businesses, and public buildings amid ongoing concerns over security and public safety. Demonstrators from groups such as the 'yellow vest' movement are among those affected by the new restrictions, and government officials have expressed the need for a swift return to calm.