In France, the Prime Minister meets with trade unions ahead of new protests

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu met with five major labor unions on Wednesday to address public order and economic grievances following a second consecutive night of localized curfews. The executive branch seeks to restore stability while preparing for further demonstrations scheduled for Saturday and November 5. High school student representatives were notably absent from the talks, a decision criticized by several union leaders. The meeting took place against a backdrop of heightened security measures designed to prevent a recurrence of the violent riots that erupted earlier in the month. Localized curfews remained in effect in specific urban centers. In Marseille, the hyper-center was under restriction from Tuesday evening until Friday. In Toulouse, a nighttime curfew in the city center was scheduled from Thursday through Sunday. In Paris, police and gendarmerie deployed heavily around the Forum des Halles area shortly before 9 p.m. GMT on Tuesday. Passersby were instructed to leave the zone, which appeared unusually calm compared to previous days. A helicopter equipped with searchlights monitored the area from above. Lecornu convened the representatives of the CFDT, CGT, FO, CFTC, and CFE-CGC unions. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez also attended the session. According to a letter sent to the organizations, the prime minister aimed to discuss methods to guarantee the freedom of demonstration. He stated that certain actors attempted to distort this right by associating it with unacceptable acts. The government aims to secure the processions while addressing the underlying causes of the unrest. New protests are organized for Saturday by yellow vest activists and student movements. A subsequent general strike and demonstration day is planned for November 5, called by the unions. Despite these upcoming dates, student bodies were not invited to the Wednesday meeting. The CGT had requested that student representatives participate. Both the CFDT and CGT expressed disappointment at their exclusion. Student demands focus on timetables, teacher replacements, building renovations, and the university admission platform Parcoursup. Lecornu promised initial announcements regarding student issues early the following week. He indicated that Parliament could incorporate these measures into the budget debate. The prime minister assured participants that the agenda would extend beyond public order. He pledged a detailed review of the budget, purchasing power, and fuel prices. Fuel costs have risen sharply. He mentioned ongoing reflections that might be integrated into the final stages of the December budget discussions. The CFDT warned against limiting the conversation to the logistics of the November 5 mobilization or receiving lectures on responsibility regarding violence. The union condemned the violence but insisted that purchasing power, a priority for employees and civil servants, required urgent attention. It highlighted the absence of youth organizations despite their claims being on the agenda. The Defender of Rights, the body responsible for monitoring law enforcement conduct, announced on Tuesday that it had received forty-six complaints since the start of the student movement. More than ten of these concerned incidents from the recent weekend. On the security front, unions emphasized their expertise in protecting demonstrators. They noted that their marches successfully avoided infiltration by black blocs, though they acknowledged limitations in managing broader chaotic situations. President Emmanuel Macron previously stated during a crisis meeting that authority must not waver at the top of the state. Lecornu had accused ultra-left radical groups of forging an insurrectionary plan that triggered the weekend rioting. These disturbances occurred alongside nationwide protests against the cost of living. A massive security operation is planned for Saturday’s protests, with military personnel set to reinforce police forces. This follows the first quiet night since France experienced its most destructive rioting in years.