The French Prime Minister receives union representatives before new demonstrations

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After a new night of curfew in some French cities to prevent a recurrence of the violence witnessed last weekend, Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu will receive unions on Wednesday to discuss ensuring the security of demonstrations and responding to the demands of the students who sparked the protests.

While the government searches for a settlement that will get the country out of this crisis, it is primarily determined to reimpose order.

A curfew was imposed for the second night in a row in some areas, such as the city center of Marseille (southeast), from 20:00 GMT Tuesday until at least Friday, while it was decided to impose a night curfew in the city center of Toulouse (southwest) from Thursday until Sunday.

In the heart of the capital, Paris, an unusual calm prevailed on Tuesday evening in the vicinity of the “Forum de Halle” commercial complex, as police and gendarmerie officers deployed in large numbers asked passers-by to leave the place while a helicopter was flying over the site.

In light of these conditions, Lecornu received on Wednesday morning the five major unions representing the protesters: the French Democratic Confederation of Labor (CFDT), the General Confederation of Labor (CGT), the Workforce (Force Ouvrier), the French Confederation of Christian Workers (CFTC), and the General Confederation of Cadres (CFO-CGC).

During the meeting, “ways and means to guarantee the necessary freedom of demonstration” will be discussed, which “some are trying to undermine by linking it to unacceptable actions,” according to what was stated in a letter sent by Locorno to the organizers of the movements.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez will also attend the meeting, while new demonstrations are scheduled to be held on Saturday at the invitation of the “yellow vest” movement and student movements, and then on November 5 at the invitation of the unions.

The French Democratic Confederation of Labor and the General Confederation of Labor regretted the absence of student organizations from the meeting, during which Lecorno intends to discuss a “response” to the demands of high school students regarding class schedules, the restoration of dilapidated school buildings, the appointment of replacements for absent teachers, and the reform of the “Parcour Sub” platform for enrolling in higher education, which faces severe criticism.

Locorno promised the students to make “first announcements” “early next week” that will be presented to Parliament during the next budget debate.

The General Confederation of Labor demanded the participation of student representatives in the meeting, while the French Democratic Confederation of Labor warned that “it is not possible to talk only about organizing mobilization” on November 5, or to receive only “a lesson in the sense of responsibility” about the acts of looting and vandalism that it denounced.

The First French Union said in an announcement to Agence France-Presse that “purchasing power, which represents the priority of employees and customers, must be addressed with urgency,” stressing that “youth organizations are absent from this meeting while the issue of responding to their demands is on the agenda.”

The “Defending Rights” Commission, which is specifically charged with ensuring that security forces respect professional ethics, announced on Tuesday that it had received 46 referrals since the start of the student protests, including “more than ten” related to incidents that took place over the weekend.

Locorno promised that he would not only discuss the issue of maintaining public order, but would give a "very precise presentation" on the budget, "the issue of purchasing power" and fuel prices, which are recording a sharp rise, and he would also put forward "ideas" that might be adopted "at the end of the budget discussion" in December.

The unions are awaiting practical answers to their demands, which were overwhelmed by the chaos of October 17th.

On the security level, unions confirm their ability to protect demonstrators.

"In our convoys, we succeed in preventing intrusions, including by Black Bloc groups," said Cyril Chabanier, president of the French Democratic Confederation of Labor, but "we cannot control people in the nearby streets who come down to carry out acts of sabotage."

He stressed "the importance of taking to the streets" on November 5.

On Thursday, Locorno will receive the political parties to discuss the “difficulties” witnessed on the mobilization day last week, address “ensuring the security” of the presidential election campaign, and ask his interlocutors to “denounce violence,” according to what was stated in a letter addressed to the parties.

Of the 557 people who were placed in pre-trial detention after the violence and looting in Paris, 300 people have so far appeared before judges, none of whom have declared “any political motive whatsoever,” according to what the French capital’s public prosecutor, Laure Picot, said, at a time when the government accuses the extreme left of inciting acts of violence.