French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu met representatives of five major trade unions on Wednesday to discuss protest security, as the government prepared a "massive" police deployment for new demonstrations planned this weekend.
The meeting at Matignon brought together the CFDT, CGT, FO, CFTC and CFE-CGC. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez also attended. Lecornu wrote to the organisations that the talks would address "the ways and means to guarantee the indispensable freedom to demonstrate" that "some are trying to divert by associating it with unacceptable acts," according to France 24.
High school student organisations, whose protests over living costs sparked the nationwide unrest, were not invited. The CFDT and CGT deplored their absence, saying Lecornu intended to address demands on schedules, replacements, building renovation and the Parcoursup university admissions platform.
"The deployment for next Saturday will be massive," Lecornu told lawmakers on Tuesday, acknowledging the security response had fallen short during last weekend's riots. The Straits Times reported that nearly 150 people have been jailed and more than 800 brought before courts since the violence began.
Authorities imposed partial curfews in Paris and other cities starting Monday night, covering Republique square, the Les Halles shopping district, the Champs-Elysees and train stations. Paris police also prohibited people from carrying fuel containers after arson attacks on government buildings and shops, the Straits Times said.
A man linked to ultra-left groups was arrested over the burning of the historic town hall in Limoges, which became a symbol of the destruction. Lecornu has accused ultra-left radicals of forging an "insurrectionary plan."
Lawmakers across the political spectrum voted on Tuesday to open a parliamentary inquiry into the unrest, examining possible intelligence failures, policing tactics and government preparedness, the Bangkok Post reported. The same outlet, citing AFP, said investors have sold off French debt amid doubts about the government's ability to control spending.
Nunez offered his resignation on Sunday, saying police "had lost control" during the riots. President Emmanuel Macron rejected it. Far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen called the unrest a "wake-up call" exposing a "profound crisis" of authority, with recent polls showing her leading first-round voting intentions.
Further protests are scheduled for Saturday, organised by Yellow Vest groups and high school students, with labour unions calling another for November 5. Smaller clashes over living costs also broke out in Milan and Belgium over the weekend.