France braces for nationwide protests

Mass rallies are set to take place across France on Saturday, with protesters airing grievances ranging from high prices and social inequalities to a dilapidated education system.

The protests come on the heels of a initial wave of demonstrations that began last month over the situation at schools in the country, with pupils complaining about teacher absences and run-down facilities.

President Emmanuel Macron has called "for calm and respect" ahead of the protests, saying that the right to protest went hand in hand with "respect for people and property."

France students demand better schools

What are the protest plans?

More than 600 demonstrations are planned across France, according to protest organizers.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez told France 2 television that "a pretty big turnout" was expected, while a police source told the French AFP news agency that authorities estimate nearly 200,000 people will attend. Of those, 40,000 were expected in the capital, Paris, the source said.

However, the Paris demonstrators will face restrictions, with police banning rallies around the Elysee presidential palace, the prime minister's office and the Champs-Elysee avenue, along with other key locations.

A march through the center of the city has also been forbidden.

The main Paris demonstration is due to begin at 2 p.m. (1200 GMT) at the Place de la Republique and head to the north of the city.

Fears of violence at the French protests

Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said on Thursday that authorities fear there could be violence during the protests.

"This is a moment of fatigue in the country," Lecornu said. "We are ​in an atmosphere ‌of perma-crisis: wars, inflation, and issues surrounding purchasing power."

Jordan Bardella, the head of the far-right National Rally, which is leading the polls ahead of next year's presidential election, said he expected clashes.

"I'm extremely concerned," he said during a visit to the Paris car show. "It will be a ‌day of chaos for France."

The school protests that have rocked France in recent weeks have already seen considerable violence, with several protesters and more than 900 police injured.

In one notable incident, an adolescent school pupil had one hand blown off and several fingers on the other hand injured by a stun grenade.

The internal police watchdog is investigating at least two dozen cases ​of alleged police violence. 

Student protests in France: Schools shut as unrest grows

Who is taking part in the protests?

Students are to be joined by trade unionists and remnants of the Yellow Vests ("Gilets jaunes") movement, which staged mass weekly protests from November 2018 to June 2020, initially against rising fuel prices. They later morphed into protests against the high cost of living and economic inequality in general.

The student protests over the past weeks have been backed by Jean-Luc Melanchon, the leader of the hard-left France Unbowed ("La France insoumise", or LFI), who marched in one demonstration on Tuesday.

The government has blamed the LFI for pouring fuel on the fire of widespread public discontent, an allegation the party has denied.

Edited by: Karl Sexton

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