French President Emmanuel Macron vowed to prevent a repeat of the rioting and looting that occurred earlier this week, as the Yellow Vests movement announced plans for a major march in Paris on Saturday, posing the next big test for the government.
Macron said on Wednesday that those seeking to cause chaos in upcoming protests would not be able to do so, while Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu met with union leaders in an attempt to contain one of the worst crises France has faced in recent years.
A representative of the Yellow Vests, a grassroots movement not linked to unions, presented plans to organize a march through the heart of Paris, including areas that were looted just days ago.
Student groups have also called for protests on the same day to demand increased investment in education. The Yellow Vests activists are attempting to revive their campaign, which began in 2018, against rising living costs and declining public services.
The demonstrations earlier in the week quickly turned into widespread violence, notably in Paris, Marseille, Lyon, and Limoges, with police taking hours to contain the events that overwhelmed them.
In a sign of investor concern over the situation, French government borrowing costs surged this week, raising 10-year bond yields to five percent, their highest level since July 2002.
Analysts said this move reflects fears that the unrest could complicate the government's efforts to restore order to financial matters, as budget pressures are already mounting.
Macron stated that he would meet with intelligence officials, Lecornu, and other ministers tomorrow, Thursday, to receive a detailed report on the disturbances that occurred on October 17.
Macron told reporters during a visit to Qatar, where he is seeking energy deals as France faces rising fuel costs, "Those who wish to cause chaos in city centers next Saturday will be prevented from doing so.".
He added, "There should be no hesitation at the highest level of the state.".
Government ministers have pledged to significantly boost security operations after admitting deficiencies in their initial response, with forces expected to be deployed alongside additional police numbers.
Macron accused some foreign leaders of spreading misinformation about what happened. U.S. President Donald Trump said that the events in France were due to mass immigration and Islamic extremism, warning Americans of these issues.
In response to a question about whether he was referring to Trump, Macron said, "He is among others," adding that some foreign politicians are trying to gain political advantage at the expense of France.
He said, "We do not need this. We already have difficulties to deal with."
