French police have banned demonstrations in parts of Paris as authorities brace for further rallies following some of the worst street unrest in years. The restrictions follow remarks by President Emmanuel Macron, who suggested that U.S. President Donald Trump is seeking to exploit the violence for political advantage ahead of the American midterm elections.
The prohibition will remain in effect from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. local time (0600 to 1800 GMT) and applies to key sites across the French capital, including the Élysée Palace, both houses of parliament, the Louvre Museum, and the Champs-Élysées.
Police cited the organizer’s inability to prevent violence and vandalism when blocking a planned student demonstration on Thursday. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu is also scheduled to meet Thursday with mayors from the cities worst hit by the weekend riots, including Paris, Marseille, and Lyon.