French PM to meet unions as government prepares for more protests

France's prime minister plans to meet unions on Wednesday to discuss security and has vowed a "massive" police deployment at protests, following riots in the past week that led to curfews and arrests.

A mounted policeman patrols near Place de la Republique during a partial curfew for parts of the capital, in Paris on October 20, 2026, after weekend demonstrations over soaring prices degenerated into some of the worst street violence in recent years. Photo by SIMON WOHLFAHRT / AFP

The eurozone's second-largest economy was rocked on the weekend by some of its worst rioting in recent years, just six months before voters head to the polls to elect a successor to President Emmanuel Macron.

Sebastien Lecornu will meet with representatives from five unions on Wednesday morning to discuss "ways and means to guarantee the essential freedom to demonstrate" according to a letter sent to the organisations, which noted some were attempting to subvert the protests with "unacceptable acts."

Source: Citizen Digital