France braces for protests as Yellow Vests urge 'mass disobedience'
French authorities are deploying 70,000 security personnel to manage upcoming protests by Yellow Vests and student unions. The demonstrations focus on the rising cost of living and occur just months before the presidential election.
Why it matters
The unrest highlights significant social and economic instability in France, which could influence the outcome of the upcoming presidential election.
--> Home World France braces for protests as Yellow Vests urge 'mass disobedience' Interior Minister Laurent Nunez says 70,000 police officers, security forces will be deployed across the country
facebook --> twitter --> whatsup --> linkded --> email MORE (3) Messenger Whatsapp --> French authorities are deploying 70,000 security forces for another day of protests. Photo: AFP French unions and student groups are set to take to the streets for another day of protests on Saturday, while the Yellow Vests movement plans a separate rally in central Paris despite a ban by authorities.
The demonstrations follow weeks of youth-led unrest and nationwide strikes that drew hundreds of thousands of workers protesting the rising cost of living.
They come less than six months before voters elect a new head of state to replace centrist President Emmanuel Macron, with the far right leading in opinion polls.
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