Companies, cultural institutions and museums across France are preparing to close at the start of the week as President Emmanuel Macron seeks to restore order following a week of nationwide protests that turned violent, despite restrictions on demonstrations.
The National Union of Students of France (UNEF) has called for gatherings on Saturday, while the Yellow Vest movement, which opposes traditional institutions and emerged in 2018, submitted a request this week to organize a protest in central Paris.
Macron is scheduled to meet student representatives later today, Friday, to discuss their plans. However, the union said the gatherings would go ahead regardless.
The movement began last month with protests organized by high school students over teacher shortages and deteriorating facilities.
In a statement sent by email, the union said: "Macron is crushing the freedom to protest in our country and is spitting on the values of the republic he claims to defend."
France is still recovering from the worst violence it has experienced in years, following mass protests early last week that were marred by riots and looting. Authorities imposed a nighttime curfew in parts of Paris and other cities, which passed without significant incidents.
Macron blamed "provocative left-wing extremist groups" for the unrest, a characterization rejected by the prominent left-wing party La France Insoumise. On Thursday, the president said "illegitimate" protests would be banned in the coming days.
He added that demonstrations organized by groups such as labor unions would be allowed to proceed, although their routes could be diverted.
Workers, students and others are protesting public spending cuts and demanding higher wages to help people cope with rising living costs. The government says it understands these concerns but must keep spending under control to curb the rising cost of borrowing.
Local authorities announced that all demonstrations planned for Saturday in Marseille and Lyon, France's second- and third-largest cities, had been banned.
Despite the restrictions and what the justice minister described as 2,700 arrests since last Saturday, companies, institutions and event organizers are preparing to close in anticipation of further unrest.
The Marseille Chamber of Commerce has called on companies to close on Saturday. Organizers of Art Basel Paris said the event would close its doors at the start of the week, alongside the Louvre Museum and the Louis Vuitton Foundation.
