French Justice Minister announces imprisonment of 217 people over violence

French authorities have decided to ban or impose restrictions on new demonstrations following protests last weekend marked by widespread violence, while President Emmanuel Macron accused far-left groups of seeking to "overthrow the Republic."

At the end of a meeting held at the presidential palace involving ministers and all intelligence services, Macron announced that a curfew and other security measures would be imposed, including a ban on organizing protests by "groups lacking legitimacy."

Macron said, "We have witnessed political, even provocative, actions carried out by organized far-left groups aimed at overthrowing the Republic."

He stated that "the priority is a return to calm," adding that he will chair a defense council meeting on Friday involving key ministers to decide on "next steps" regarding a second round of nationwide protests across France scheduled for Saturday.

Macron stressed that only demonstrations organized by trade unions will be permitted on Saturday.

Officials are still reeling from the shock of clashes, widespread looting, and the vandalism of public buildings that broke out on October 17 on the sidelines of mass demonstrations involving over half a million people protesting the high cost of living.

Macron's government acknowledged that police failed to anticipate the scale of the movement, while candidates seeking to succeed him in the presidential election scheduled in six months argue that the authorities are either incapable of calming the situation or unwilling to do so.

Paris police banned a protest scheduled for today by students who had previously organized 4-week-long protests prior to the October 17 demonstrations.

Lyon, France's third-largest city, like Paris and other cities, witnessed clashes and looting last weekend, with between 200 and 300 shops looted and a tourist office set on fire. Its mayor said the city experienced hours of "chaos."

Authorities also banned demonstrations in the centers of other cities including Grenoble, Rouen, Le Havre, and Toulon.

In Paris, police stated on Thursday that the demonstration scheduled for Saturday can be organized in the east of the city starting from the Place de la Bastille, but is banned from heading to the center of the capital where major shops and public buildings are located.

The "Yellow Vests" movement, which organizes protests against the high cost of living in cooperation with trade unions, announced its disagreement with this decision.

The French government seeks to show firmness in its response to the violence that the country witnessed last weekend, even though Macron affirmed that the situation does not currently warrant declaring a state of emergency.

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu is scheduled to hold a meeting on Thursday bringing together senior officials of major French parties to listen to their demands and discuss ways of cooperation. While most parties decided to send their leaders to attend the meeting, Le Pen's National Rally party chose to dispatch a lower-level official to represent it.