French associations have filed an urgent legal appeal against President Emmanuel Macron’s call to ban demonstrations not organised by trade unions ahead of nationwide protests planned for Saturday, October 24.
The Association for the Defence of Constitutional Freedoms (Adelico) and the Magistrates’ Union filed an application with the Council of State, France’s highest administrative court, broadcaster Franceinfo reported on Thursday.
The associations asked the court to suspend Macron’s decision and any instructions issued to enforce it. They argued that the president had no legal authority to establish a policy of banning demonstrations.
Jean-Baptiste Soufron, a lawyer representing Adelico, described the announcement as an “abuse of power”, according to the appeal.
The associations also challenged what they said was a distinction between trade unions and other citizens, arguing that unions do not have a monopoly on organising demonstrations and that the right to protest belongs to everyone.
The Council of State has 48 hours to rule on the appeal.
Security tightened ahead of protests
Macron announced on Thursday that demonstrations not organised by trade unions would be banned in the coming days, particularly on Saturday, “wherever possible”.
Prefects were instructed to examine union requests and propose alternative routes to protect city centres.
Government spokesperson Maud Bregeon said restrictions on non-union demonstrations would be decided on a case-by-case basis.
Several local authorities have already imposed restrictions. According to Franceinfo, authorities in Paris approved only one of two routes requested for Saturday, while all gatherings were banned in Lyon and parts of Nice city centre.
The prefecture of Bouches-du-Rhone also banned demonstrations across the department, including in Marseille, on Saturday, even those concerning issues other than purchasing power.
In Lille, authorities announced a ban on all demonstrations and gatherings in the city centre.
Around 70,000 security personnel expected
Meanwhile, BFMTV reporte on Friday that police academy trainees nearing the end of their training will be deployed as reinforcements during Saturday’s demonstrations.
The trainees will guard buildings and perform administrative duties at police stations, allowing experienced officers to focus on more sensitive operations.
They will not be deployed for crowd control or public order duties, which are prohibited under a 2022 law. Several dozen trainees have volunteered, according to the broadcaster.
The government plans to deploy around 70,000 security personnel mobilised during protests on October 17, which resulted in damage to businesses and public buildings.
Jean-Didier Berger, minister delegate to the Interior Ministry, said security deployments on Saturday would be 20 percent higher than on October 17. Sentinelle military personnel, specialist units GIGN and RAID, and riot police are also expected to be deployed.
Authorities have introduced additional restrictions across the Paris metropolitan area, including bans on transporting fuel and flammable gases, carrying protective equipment within 100 metres of a school, and possessing fireworks mortars.
Paris police have also imposed a curfew for adults and minors around Place de la Republique and Les Halles, from 11 pm to 6 am, running from Thursday evening until Sunday.
