France’s Macron vows to bring order, calls foreign criticism of unrest ‘stupid’

Paris — President Emmanuel Macron vowed on Wednesday to prevent a repeat of last weekend’s violence at protests planned in the coming days and dismissed as “stupid” and “unacceptable” comments from some foreign leaders about the unrest.

France’s main student union, UNEF, has called for further rallies on Saturday, while the Yellow Vest group, which emerged as a potent anti-establishment movement in 2018, has filed plans for a march through central Paris the same day.

Efforts to ease social tensions showed little sign of progress, as unions pledged to press ahead with a general strike on November 5 to denounce the high cost of living and cuts to public services after talks with the government ended inconclusively.

France was hit by some of the worst urban tumult in years on October 17 on the fringe of nationwide protests, shocking the nation because of its scale and the apparent inability of police to contain it.

Macron said he would meet intelligence officials and senior ministers on Thursday to discuss the crisis.

“Those who want to cause disorder in city centres next Saturday will be prevented from doing so,” Macron said during a visit to Qatar, where he has been seeking energy deals as France grapples with rising fuel costs.

He also accused some foreign leaders of spreading misinformation about what had happened. US President Donald Trump , in particular, has blamed immigrants and radical Islam, without providing evidence, and said the turbulence was a warning for Americans.

Asked whether he was referring to Trump, Macron responded: “Among others”, adding that some foreign politicians were looking to make political capital at the expense of France.

“There was foreign disinformation in the aftermath, which prompted comments that were as unacceptable as they were stupid from many people, including foreign leaders,” he said.

Highlighting investor concern over the situation, French government borrowing costs have jumped this week, pushing the benchmark 10-year bond yield to 5%, their highest level since July 2002.

Analysts said the move reflected concern that the unrest could complicate government efforts to repair strained public finances at a time of already mounting budget pressures.

There has been no consideration whatsoever of our demands. The time has come to take the mobilisation to the next level

Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu met union leaders in an effort to defuse the crisis, but there was no sign of a breakthrough. Labour groups saying they had received no concrete response to their demands on wages and public services.

“There has been no consideration whatsoever of our demands,” said Sophie Binet, head of the left-wing CGT group. “The time has come to take the mobilisation to the next level,” she added, confirming next month’s national strike.