Despite the restrictions imposed by the French authorities, the yellow vests called for new protests for next Saturday, with demonstrations throughout France in defense of public liberties.
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24/10/2026
by
Lusa
Iin Paris today, the French “yellow vests” promised new protests next Saturday, despite the restrictions imposed by the French authorities.
“ On 31 October, for the ‘Third Act’ we will hold demonstrations throughout France in defense of our freedoms. We call for demonstrations sitting in front of all municipal chambers and the National Assembly on October 31,” spokesperson Benjamin Ball said to a group of journalists near Bastille Square.
The movement was forbidden by the authorities to proceed with the protest march they had called from that place to Opera Square.
The French President, Emmanuel Macron, determined this week that only the unions were allowed to convene protests, refusing those by movements “without any legitimacy”.
According to Ball, “it is essential to be able to defend our public freedoms and we will do so in the best possible way, that is, we will hold demonstrations sitting and, if they are prohibited, we reserve the right to keep them.”.
“ They prohibit our demonstrations and announce that from now on only certain organisations will have the right to demonstrate. This decision was taken without any legal basis. Contrary to our Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression and freedom of expression”, he accused.
The “yellow vests” movement hopes to mobilize students, workers, farmers, nurses, “inhabitants of the popular neighborhoods, defenders of the environment, life, peace and social justice”.
A few meters ago, the police announced by a speaker that concentrations of people were prohibited in Bastille Square, because the demonstration called today by a trade union front would have another route.
Anyone who disregards this order risks being arrested and a fine of EUR 135.
On Friday, the Paris Police decided that the initial itinerary, from Bastille Square to Nation Square, would be carried out in a less central location, between Italy Square and the Port of Vincennes.
This left several young protesters confused, such as Raphaël and a group of three friends, who carried some posters to support the student movement.
“ We bought some sandwiches and we're taking the subway ", they told Lusa Agency after being informed by the police.
Asked if they were concerned about the risk of violent clashes, they said they were “more afraid of the police”.
Last Saturday, one of Raphaël's friends came to lose consciousness due to tear gas, although she is close to firefighters and doctors.
Between 550,000 and 800,000 people have manifested themselves throughout the country, resulting in the arrest of 2,900 people following riots and looting that affected about 3,000 businesses.
The riots led the Ministry of Interior to mobilize some 70,000 agents across France, including elite units, teams with dogs and horses, armored cars, water cannons, helicopters and drones.
But the several thousand people gathered today in Italy Square, in the southern part of Paris, at the beginning of the afternoon, were a lower crowd than the previous week.
Until 13:00 locals (less than one hour in Lisbon), French security forces registered 136 actions against public policy, against the 264 registered at the same time the previous Saturday, which resulted in 135 arrests, the Interior Minister said.