France is bracing for a second round of nationwide protests scheduled for Saturday, October 24th, as the Gilets Jaunes (yellow vests) coordination group calls for action under the slogan 'Macron doit partir' (Macron must go). These planned demonstrations follow the events of October 17th, which saw unions, high school students, and various yellow vest groups rally across the country.
That previous day of action was marred by violence, including clashes between extremist groups and police, as well as widespread looting and vandalism in several towns and cities.
A primary concern for the upcoming weekend is whether these protests will be permitted to proceed. While local authorities hold the final decision, several demonstrations have already been denied permission, though these bans remain subject to potential legal challenges.
The Gilets Jaunes have maintained an online map detailing planned gathering points, including roundabouts, petrol stations, fuel depots, railway stations, and toll booths.
However, it is noted that not all listed events are expected to materialize, as previous maps showed similar widespread plans for October 17th that ultimately concentrated in larger urban centers.
Security preparations for the 24th are being significantly scaled up. In parliament, Sébastien Lecornu acknowledged that the security operation during the previous weekend was "too static and not mobile enough," leading to an admission that police had lost control.
Consequently, the government is planning a massive deployment, with an estimated 90,000 police officers expected to be on the streets, an increase from the 60,000 deployed last week.
Local authorities have taken varying approaches to the unrest. Lyon has issued a total ban on Saturday protests following the burning of a tourism office during the previous demonstrations. Additionally, the towns of Grenoble, Rouen, Le Havre, and Toulon have banned protests from being held in their respective town centers, with the possibility that more towns may follow.
While the government has urged authorities to prioritize marches organized by unions or political parties and to ban demos organized by "illegitimate groups," the final authority rests with local officials. Protest groups retain the ability to access fast-track legal challenges to contest these bans.
In Paris, two locations are currently under discussion: Place de la République and Place de la Bastille. While a union-organized march from Bastille to Nation has been authorized, a yellow vest event intended for more central areas has been banned, a decision the group plans to challenge. Furthermore, cities including Paris, Marseille, Bordeaux, and Lyon have imposed limited local curfews that could remain in effect through the weekend.
The impact of the protests is already affecting scheduled events. The Ligue 1 football match between Toulouse and Troyes has been moved from Saturday to Sunday due to a lack of police resources, and the Paris-based Art Basel fair has announced its intention to close for the weekend.
Beyond the yellow vests, the CGT union has called on its 600,000 members to join the demonstrations peacefully, and student groups are also expected to participate.
Looking further ahead, the yellow vest coordination group has warned of potential future protests, with social media already mentioning October 31st. Additionally, a nationwide cross-sector strike has been called by French unions for Thursday, November 5th, in opposition to cost-cutting measures in the 2027 budget, with yellow vest leaders indicating they intend to join those demonstrations as well.
