French police have fired tear gas at protesters in Lyon as demonstrations over the rising cost of living resumed nationwide, prompting authorities to deploy 70,000 security personnel to prevent a repeat of last weekend’s violence.
Police dispersed about 150 protesters near Lyon’s city centre after they briefly attempted to block a road in an area where demonstrations had been prohibited.
The renewed protests came amid heightened security in major French cities, with authorities deploying riot police, armoured vehicles and water cannons in anticipation of possible clashes.
In Paris, several businesses boarded up their windows ahead of the demonstrations, while the Louvre and Musée d’Orsay museums remained closed. Police described the situation in the capital as calm at midday.
The demonstrations also coincided with a congress of Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally party in Orleans, where thousands of protesters marched against the party and President Emmanuel Macron.
Police estimated the crowd at 11,000, while organisers put the figure at 26,000.
Last weekend’s demonstrations were marred by clashes between rioters and police, vandalism of public buildings and looting of shops. Authorities reported about 2,700 arrests following the unrest.
Protest organisers accused Macron’s government of failing to address public concerns over rising living costs and conditions in schools.
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However, the government maintained that while peaceful demonstrations were permitted, authorities would take action against violence and looting.
The restrictions imposed on protests have drawn criticism from human rights organisations, with Amnesty International warning that the measures threatened the right to peaceful assembly.
Human Rights Watch also called on the police to balance public safety with the protection of citizens’ right to demonstrate peacefully.
