Protests prompt Paris to close museums and secure streets

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The French authorities announced the closure of the Louvre Museum and a number of other museums in Paris, on Saturday, at a time when the authorities are preparing for a new round of protest movements across the country.

The measure comes amid tightening security measures in the French capital and other cities, following acts of violence and looting witnessed by the October 17 protests, while the Paris municipality called on residents and shop owners to take additional precautions before the movements on Saturday, October 24, which included removing objects and equipment from the streets that may be used in acts of vandalism, enhancing the deployment of municipal police, and canceling some public events, according to the official Paris municipality statement.

In his latest statements, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday that the authorities would ban the demonstrations that he described as “illegal” in the coming days, blaming groups from the extreme left responsible for the violence and looting that the country witnessed over the past weekend.

Macron's statements came after a meeting with intelligence officials and a number of senior ministers, at a time when the government is seeking to contain the repercussions of the unrest and restore public order.

Macron explained that the demonstrations organized by unions and other authorized bodies could continue, but the authorities may change their paths to protect stores and facilities from acts of sabotage, according to what was reported by Agence France-Presse.

The French authorities are preparing to tighten security measures ahead of Saturday's movements, as local authorities banned all scheduled demonstrations in Lyon, the second largest city in France, while the Yellow Vest movement announced plans to organize a march in central Paris, and the main student union (UNEF) called for organizing protest gatherings.

In the capital, stores in central Paris began to reinforce their facades in anticipation of possible acts of violence, and transport authorities closed metro stations in central areas on Thursday, in anticipation of unauthorized gatherings. Other cities witnessed the imposition of a ban on some gatherings and restrictions on night movement following the recent violence, according to what was reported by Agence France-Presse.

The protests that took place in France on October 17 began amid student demands to improve school conditions, before expanding to include anger at the rising costs of living, energy and fuel prices, and declining purchasing power.

The movements witnessed confrontations, looting, and vandalism that affected stores, public buildings, and vehicles, while the authorities reported widespread arrests and injuries among the security forces.

The events also raised criticism about the ability of the security services to contain the unrest, after violence spread to several French cities.

Macron expressed his anger at the violence, stressing the need to protect state institutions and public property, but he did not declare a state of emergency or a nationwide curfew at the time, leaving local authorities to take measures appropriate to the situation in each region.

For its part, the Paris Municipality announced the mobilization of more than a thousand cleaners over the weekend to remove traces of vandalism and rehabilitate the streets, in addition to activating a crisis management cell on Saturday afternoon in coordination with the Metropolitan Police.

The municipality called on residents and business owners to remove containers, bicycles and outdoor furniture from public places, starting at noon on Saturday, to reduce the risk of their use in acts of vandalism. She stressed that the responsibility for maintaining public order falls on the Paris Police, while the municipality focuses on protecting its facilities and securing the public space.

The French authorities are awaiting whether the new protests will remain within the framework of peaceful movements or will witness renewed violence, in light of the continuing dispute over the causes of the unrest between the government, which accuses extremist groups of exploiting the protests, and the protesters’ demands related to the costs of living and social conditions.