فرنسا على صفيح الغضب والاحتجاجات تهدد مراكز السلطة

France is heading towards a new wave of protests, with demonstrations taking place (on Saturday) for the fourth consecutive week, amid extensive security mobilization and increasing pressure on the government due to the rising cost of living and declining purchasing power, while the "Yellow Vests" movement seeks to move its protests to the vicinity of power centers in Paris.

The movement intends to organize a separate march from union activities, gathering in Place de la Concorde today (Saturday), despite authorities' decision to ban it, in a move that its organizers described as a political message targeting the symbolism of governance. The square is located near the National Assembly, the Ministry of the Interior, and the Matignon Palace, the Prime Minister's office.

Coordinator member Benjamin Ball stated that the protesters will head to the square, calling for "mass disobedience," while the movement's lawyer David Lipskind confirmed that the choice of location was not coincidental, as it is close to sovereign institutions and decision-making centers.

The protests on Saturday come after a large union mobilization on Thursday, which saw participation from 575,000 people according to authorities, while the General Confederation of Labor estimated the number of participants at around 1.6 million, demanding improvements in wages and purchasing power. Youth and local unions called for a licensed march in Paris under the banner of rejecting the high cost of living and defending the rights of youth.

In response to the escalation, the French Ministry of the Interior deployed 70,000 police and security personnel across the country, tightening measures to protect city centers and prevent spontaneous gatherings, in order to avoid a repeat of the violence and looting that accompanied previous protests. Authorities banned gatherings in the center of several cities, including Rennes, due to the violence witnessed on Thursday.

All eyes are on the social conference that the government will hold (on Monday) with the participation of unions and employers, to discuss wage and purchasing power demands. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu confirmed that the government will present tangible responses to the aspirations of the French during this conference, while hinting at its readiness to take measures regarding the minimum wage, but it does not seem prepared to respond to the unions' demand to raise it by a net of one hundred euros.

Unions warned that the continuation of protests depends on the government's responsiveness, asserting that mobilization will not cease without solutions to the demands raised by workers, employees, youth, and retirees. The union coordination is expected to announce its position on Monday evening, at a time when the government appears to be facing a new test in containing public anger.