Shopkeepers in Paris are boarding up windows and securing their premises ahead of fresh anti-government protests scheduled across France on Saturday, a week after demonstrations escalated into violent riots that left thousands of businesses vandalised or looted.
asserted
that → board → businesses
The unrest last weekend saw more than 2,500 people arrested across the country, while the French government said around 450 shops in Paris alone were damaged or looted.
asserted
shops → see → Paris
Businesses are now preparing for possible further disruption as authorities step up security measures and demonstrations are planned in several cities.
asserted
demonstrations → prepare → cities
At Place de la République in central Paris, shopfronts were left with shattered windows, graffiti-covered walls and burnt-out kiosks and bus shelters after the previous weekend's violence.
asserted
shopfronts → leave → violence
Restaurant owner Abdul Mahmoud was quoted by NPR as saying that he watched in horror as people broke into his establishment, took drinks and emptied cash registers.
asserted
people → quote → registers
“We all have a right to protest,” he said, “but vandalism, that's a different matter.”
asserted
that → protest → right
Shopkeepers take precautions as demonstrations approach
Businesses in Paris are preparing for the possibility of renewed violence, while shopkeepers in other French cities are also reinforcing their premises.
asserted
shopkeepers → take → premises
In Lyon, workers were seen installing wooden panels and protective fencing outside City Hall, the Museum of Fine Arts and the Chamber of Commerce on Friday, Euronews reported.
asserted
Euronews → see → Friday
Shops along Rue de la République were also securing their windows with wooden boards.
asserted
Shops → secure → boards
In Orléans, businesses along the planned protest route have taken similar precautions ahead of a weekend that will see the city host a congress of the far-right National Rally party.
asserted
city → plan → party
Around 20,000 to 30,000 protesters are expected to gather in opposition to the event, with nearly 3,000 police officers and security personnel due to be deployed, according to Euronews.
uncertain
officers → expect → Euronews
The preparations come amid fears of further property damage.
asserted
preparations → come → damage
France deploys 70,000 police officers
asserted
France → deploy → officers
Interior minister Laurent Nuñez said around 70,000 police officers and gendarmes would be deployed across France over the weekend.
asserted
officers → say → weekend
The move follows criticism of the authorities' response to last weekend's unrest.
asserted
move → follow → unrest
“We will not let anything go unchallenged,” Nuñez said.
He also warned that the government would be “uncompromising with the vandals, with the looters, and all those who commit acts of violence”.
asserted
who → let → violence
Authorities have imposed restrictions on demonstrations in several cities.
asserted
Authorities → impose → cities
French President Emmanuel Macron decreed earlier in the week that only demonstrations organised by recognised trade unions would be permitted on Saturday, while cities including Lyon, Nice and Montpellier announced broader bans on gatherings.
asserted
cities → decree → gatherings
Despite the restrictions, hundreds of demonstrations and other actions were planned across the country.
asserted
hundreds → plan → country
A student union-led march in Paris was ordered to follow a route away from the city centre.
asserted
march → lead → centre
The Louvre, Orsay and Picasso museums were due to close on Saturday, while a scheduled home match for football club Paris Saint-Germain was moved to Monday.
asserted
match → close → Monday
Student protests widen amid cost-of-living anger
The protests began last month when high school students mobilised over conditions in schools.
asserted
students → widen → schools
They subsequently expanded to include wider groups protesting against the rising cost of living.
asserted
They → expand → living
While some demonstrators have condemned looting and vandalism, others have defended the protests as a means of expressing anger over the government's policies.
asserted
others → condemn → policies
Nicolas Fournier, a 25-year-old who works at a cafe in Place de la République, told NPR that he supported the protests and was sympathetic towards some of those involved in looting.
asserted
he → work → looting
“People who steal, they are just getting what they didn't get from the government.
asserted
they → steal → government
I'm not mad at them at all,” he said, describing the moment as historic.
asserted
he → say → moment
“I think we're in a second French Revolution,” Fournier added.
asserted
Fournier → think → Revolution
Macron met representatives of high school students on Friday ahead of the demonstrations.
asserted
Macron → meet → demonstrations
Although the representatives said he had made commitments to them, they urged students to continue mobilising.
asserted
they → say → students
The unrest has also intensified political tensions ahead of France's 2027 presidential election.
asserted
unrest → intensify → election
The National Rally's congress in Orléans is expected to draw thousands of party supporters, while left-wing groups are planning counter-protests.
asserted
groups → expect → protests
Authorities are now preparing for demonstrations across the country while businesses take precautions against a repeat of last weekend's destruction.
asserted
businesses → prepare → destruction
The Aporia
