France braces for fresh protests as Macron seeks to prevent further unrest

French President Emmanuel Macron aims to ensure the presidential election later this year is held with minimal disruption. However, his government is bracing for fresh protests as hundreds of thousands are set to march through cities and public workers plan to strike on Thursday. The demonstrations, backed by unions and student groups, come amid weeks of unrest over living costs, public services, and education, which have caused the worst civil unrest in France in years.

Authorities have deployed around 70,000 police nationwide, with the domestic intelligence service predicting 500,000 to 700,000 people will join the protests outside Paris. The education ministry expects 17.5% of primary school teachers to join the strikes, while rail and transport services might also face disruptions. Students, who express concerns over school conditions and future prospects, continue to join the marches despite some fears of police violence.

The government has defended police tactics but assures any abuses will be investigated. President Macron convened a defence and security meeting to address the situation, emphasizing the need to restore calm before the election. Nationwide protests last Saturday were generally peaceful, though a few clashes occurred on the fringes.

Political tension remains high as candidates prepare for the election and opposition parties seek to exploit public frustration over living standards and government policies.