Macron blames ‘seditious’ far left for unrest as France bans some protests
French authorities have banned protests in major cities following violent riots, with President Macron blaming 'ultra-left' groups for the unrest. Over 2,700 people have been detained as the government moves to curb further demonstrations.
Why it matters
Reflects significant civil unrest and a hardening of government policy regarding public assembly in France.
Thursday’s planned demonstrations are outlawed in parts of Paris, Lyon, Lille and Grenoble.
x whatsapp-stroke copylink google Add Al Jazeera on Google info French President Emmanuel Macron attends a security council meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris, October 22, 2026 [Teresa Suarez/Pool via Reuters] By AFP and AP Published On 22 Oct 2026 22 Oct 2026 French authorities have barred demonstrations in several of the country’s largest cities, as President Emmanuel Macron blamed far-left groups for stoking violence during weekend protests .
The Paris Police Prefecture announced that Thursday’s protests would be banned in key parts of the city until 8pm (18:00 GMT). That includes areas near the presidential Elysee Palace, both houses of parliament, the city’s main train stations, as well as parts of downtown where looting occurred over the weekend.
Headlinne story · 8 newsrooms
France Deploys 70000 Police Officers as Fresh Nationwide Protests Begin
What every outlet reported, where they differ, and how each framed it →
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in