French trade unions braces for nationwide protest as Yellow Vests movement urges mass disobedience

French trade unions and student organizations are preparing for nationwide demonstrations in central Paris this Saturday. These groups are calling for an authorized march to protest high living costs and deteriorating school conditions, according to Le Monde English. The Daily Times reports that activist groups are also rallying to demand immediate socio-economic policy changes from federal authorities.

The Yellow Vests movement has planned a separate rally at Place de la Concorde near the presidential palace and the Assemblée Nationale, despite a ban by authorities on demonstrations in that area, according to Channel News Asia and Le Monde English. These protests follow weeks of youth-led unrest and nationwide strikes involving hundreds of thousands of workers.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez stated that 70,000 police officers and security forces will be deployed across the country, noting that authorities will be ready for any rioters or looters. While demonstrations have been largely peaceful, Channel News Asia reports that there have been instances of vandalism and clashes with police on the sidelines of previous protests.

Brief written by urgent.news from Daily Times, Channel News Asia, DW English (Top Stories), DW News, Le Monde English — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.