MARSEILLE: French President Emmanuel Macron warned that a new wave of protests this weekend could turn “risky”, adding that protest routes would remain outside city centres to protect public order.
“Next Saturday is expected to be another risky day,” Macron said during a visit to Marseille, France’s second-largest city, where protesters briefly stormed city hall on October 17.
Macron acknowledged that authorities had “not anticipated at all” the scale of the demonstrations a week earlier.
ACTU
FRANCE 🇫🇷: déplacement surprise d’Emmanuel Macron à Marseille.
La visite du président ce lundi 26 octobre 2026, est centré sur le « retour de l’ordre républicain » après les violentes émeutes et les pillages qui ont touché la ville le 17 octobre. https://t.co/tH4haXdDb5— France-AfriqueMÉDIA (@FranceAfrique23) October 26, 2026
The French President said that social media was “damaging our democracies” as France struggled to contain weeks of protests.
He said that social media was especially used during unrest on October 17 “to bring young and not-so-young people to places where criminal acts, attacks and looting were taking place”. He described social media as “tools for mobilising the worst impulses”.
Meanwhile, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said on Monday that French authorities are bracing for more street unrest next weekend despite a huge security operation that helped contain nationwide demonstrations on Saturday.
The protests, which have rattled Macron’s government for weeks, show little sign of easing after violence nine days ago engulfed dozens of cities.
In response to the turmoil, the interior ministry deployed 70,000 police for Saturday’s demonstrations, which unions called to denounce the high cost of living and public services.
The movement has grown far beyond initial student discontent, drawing in trade unions and “yellow vest” activists, known for their high-visibility jackets and mass demonstrations against economic pressures including high fuel costs.
Nunez said the huge police presence prevented a repeat of violence seen earlier this month, but asked by BFM TV on Monday whether he expected further disturbances during demonstrations planned for October 31, he replied: “Clearly, yes.”
“Halloween evening is traditionally always a bit lively. We expect it to be complicated again,” he added.
Nunez said 1,435 people were arrested nationwide during Saturday’s demonstrations and said police had also recorded a new phenomenon, with organised gangs confronting activists in several cities.
“We knew there had been calls from numerous identity-based and nationalist movements to come out, officially, to defend businesses,” he said.
“In a number of cities, such as Nice and Montpellier, these groups arrived in organised formations, mainly to target the ultra-left movement.”
The government was expected later on Monday to announce measures aimed at addressing student concerns over education and university admissions, after a nationwide consultation with high school and university students.
On Monday, Macron made an unannounced visit to the port city of Marseille, which saw the worst of the unrest on Saturday.
Business leaders said the unrest was continuing to inflict heavy economic damage despite a calmer weekend.
