Macron: Extremist leftist groups planned to overthrow the French Republic

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Today, Thursday, French President Emmanuel Macron accused organized groups of the extreme left of being behind the riots that took place last Saturday in the country, considering that these groups seek to overthrow the French Republic, and that some of their attacks were planned, organized, and extremely dangerous.

“France will ban unorganized protests by unions in the coming days,” Macron said after a meeting of the Security and Defense Council at the Elysee Palace, while alternative paths will be allocated for marches organized by organized bodies, such as unions, with the aim of protecting shops and companies.

He also announced that a new meeting of the Defense Council will be held tomorrow, Friday, to take additional security decisions, in preparation for Saturday’s protests.

Meanwhile, Macron confirmed the continuation of investigations and prosecutions, after thousands of cases of police detention were recorded and hundreds of people were placed in prison, stressing the need to deal with the utmost firmness with those responsible for acts of violence.

For his part, French Minister of Justice Gerald Darmanin announced Thursday that 217 people were imprisoned out of 2,700 people who were placed under pretrial detention against the backdrop of the violence and looting that France witnessed last weekend.

Darmanin considered that this measure represented a "very firm and unparalleled response," noting that half of those imprisoned had no judicial precedents.

In parallel with the security measures, Macron announced that the government will continue dialogue with political and union forces, with the Prime Minister holding an expanded meeting next Monday that includes student organizations, teachers, unions, employers, local officials, and parliamentarians, to discuss social and educational demands, especially the demands of young people.

This came as the authorities decided to ban all demonstrations in Lyon, the third largest city in France, on Saturday, ahead of street movements scheduled nationwide on the same day, following protests that took place last weekend and turned into widespread violence.

The Prefecture of the Rhône region said in a statement, Thursday, “In view of the events that occurred on October 17, the prefect decided by decree to ban all protests in the city of Lyon on Saturday, October 24.”

Lyon, like Paris and other French cities, witnessed clashes and looting, after masked young men descended on the city center on the sidelines of mass demonstrations to protest the high cost of living.

Mayor Gregory Doucet said that the city experienced hours of "chaos" during the riots, as between 150 and 200 stores were looted, in addition to a tourism office being set on fire. The police arrested about 200 people.

Meanwhile, the organizers of the demonstrations, from the "yellow vest" movement, along with a number of unions, called for a new day of nationwide protests on Saturday, and for a general strike and other demonstrations on November 5.

Local authorities had previously decided to ban all demonstrations in parts of Paris, Lyon and other cities on Saturday, ahead of street movements scheduled nationwide on the aforementioned day.