Gilets jaunes plan more protests on October 24 - and mayors call for solidarity gatherings

Update October 19, 14:15:

Gatherings and demonstrations have been banned in Marseille from 12:00-20:00 today (October 19), announced the Bouches-du-Rhône Préfète de police on X.

France's Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has asked prefects to impose "partial and localised curfews" in some town centres. The announcement came following a crisis meeting this morning in response to this weekend's riots.

The European Commission and Arcom, the French digital regulator, is working to ensure that social media platforms comply with the ban on spreading messages that encourage violence, reported FranceInfo.

The gilets jaunes (yellow vests) are pushing for further demonstrations this coming Saturday (October 24), after some 550,000 people took part in protests across France on October 17. 

The movement is calling for an “acte 2” and has posted a map of rallies on the website 17octobregiletjaune.net, with almost 100 actions already scheduled at the time of writing.

Protests are planned in multiple towns and cities including in Marseille, Nice, Toulouse, Nantes, Rennes, Strasbourg, Lyon and several actions in and around Paris.

The demonstrations come in response to issues including rising living costs, fuel prices, and deteriorating public services, and as well as the gilets jaunes have brought together several groups including students and trade unions.

Solidarity gatherings at town halls

Mayors across France are inviting people to gather in front of their local town halls from midday (October 19) to show solidarity following the widespread riots that followed the demonstrations this weekend. 

The Association of French Mayors (AMF) called for these gatherings as several French cities saw violence, looting and the burning of public buildings on Saturday night (October 17), after more than half a million people were said to have participated in largely peaceful demonstrations across France earlier that day.

Multiple town halls were the targets of vandalism. In Paris’ 10th arrondissement, rioters broke into the mairie, while in Limoges (Haute-Vienne) the mairie was set on fire. There were no casualties, but the listed historic building suffered considerable damage with the roof and bell tower collapsing.

Further smaller-scale riots and looting took place in Lyon and Nantes on Sunday (October 18), while in Paris there were reports of police charges as well as use of tear gas and stun grenades in various parts of the city centre, with increased police presence around Châtelet-Les Halles.

“It is not only public institutions that are under attack, but - far more seriously - the civil liberties of all French people,” stated the AMF. 

The organisation added that it “utterly condemns these acts of aggression and vandalism, the violence of which has crossed an unacceptable threshold, while the demonstrations themselves respected public order.” 

President Macron’s national address 

President Emmanuel Macron addressed the nation from the Élysée Palace on Sunday in a televised speech watched by an average of some 16.7 million viewers across various channels.

The President called for “calm and respect” following the scenes of "unbridled" and “unprecedented” violence.

"Nothing justifies it. Nothing explains it. Nothing excuses it. We all feel anger and shame," he stated.

Over 2,000 people were arrested and almost 1,000 police officers, gendarmes and firefighters were reported injured following Saturday’s riots, according to Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez.

President Macron also highlighted the importance of distinguishing between "those who destroyed, ransacked and looted" and demonstrators’ "legitimate demands."

Interior minister offers resignation

Laurent Nuñez submitted his resignation to President Macron on Sunday. However, it was rejected.  

“I offered my resignation because I am responsible for everything that is happening,” Mr Nuñez told France Inter this morning.

President Macron refused the request and instead asked Mr Nuñez to implement a new policing strategy “to deal with rioters”.

Mr Nuñez said that “everything will be done to ensure this does not happen again.

“We clearly need to do a better job of anticipating the scale of demonstrations as they unfold.”

Mr Nuñez described “losing control” of the situation in certain French cities on Saturday and said that there will be a “stepping up” of intervention strategies against rioters so that the police can be “mobile and responsive.”

Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin was interviewed on France 2 regarding Mr Nuñez’s response to the violence following the October 17 demonstrations. 

“We have, without a doubt, failed,” said Mr Darmanin.

“We need to find out what went wrong,” he added.

US Vice-President weighs in

US Vice-President JD Vance has reacted to the violence seen across France over the weekend, arguing that immigration was to blame.

“Western liberals imported the third world into France and other countries in the name of diversity and compassion. They ignored fundamental questions of assimilation and compatibility. They were told it would lead to this and they didn't listen,” he stated on X.

“I pray that France, a beautiful country of amazing people, will stop this madness before more of its landmarks burn,” he added.

The US Vice-President also drew a link to the US general election on November 3.

“I hope Americans are paying attention. This is the future congressional Democrats seek for your country.”