France, student protests and yellow vests: clashes in Paris. Disbanded procession in Lyon

Procession with large participation in Paris. The demonstration initially took place peacefully, but at the end of the march the police used tear gas and a water cannon to try to disperse the crowd, most with their faces covered. The prefecture reported how over 500 casseurs clashed with police officers in the Porte de Vincennes area after the end of the procession. Tensions also in Lyon, where 10 thousand people gathered to demonstrate despite the police ban in a large perimeter of the city.

Scuffles also in Bordeaux. At Place de la Bourse police fired tear gas to disperse the crowd, while protesters threw firecrackers. The prefecture spoke of "hostile groups" who attacked the police "throwing objects and stones". Tension also occurred in Marseille, where the demonstration, at the end of the route, left the predefined route, leaving the possibility of police control. In Nantes, officers used water cannons to disperse unauthorized gatherings.

The French authorities, in several cities, have decided to restrict the scope of freedom to demonstrate: in general, only protests called by trade unions have been allowed. A decision, supported by Macron, which led the opposition to speak of "freedom-killing" behavior. Urgent appeals were also presented to the Council of State against the directive to the prefects, announced by the president, which led to the ban on taking to the streets in cities such as Lyon, Metz, Nancy, Besançon. Precisely in Lyon, in the morning the police used tear gas to disperse a gathering of around 150 people who were blocking traffic near the Lyon 3 University. Marseille also risked a ban, then at the last minute a route was agreed for the demonstration to take place. Transport suspended and shops closed in several cities. Maximum attention also in Orleans, for the congress of the nationalist party Rassemblement National with Marine Le Pen who officially launched her bid for the Elysée.

In Paris several shops have decided to lock their windows and museums have been closed. The authorized route for today's event was changed at the last minute. Initially, the route proposed by the CGT union together with the students, the traditional one between Bastille and Nation, was approved. Then on Friday evening the prefecture changed its mind: with an ordinance, the prefect banned that route, diverting the demonstrators onto a very decentralized route between the Porte d'Italie and the Porte de Vincennes, via the boulevard des Maréchaux. The reason given by the prefect was that the initial itinerary was "difficult to make safe", presented a "high risk of violence" with "spontaneous processions that could break away from the demonstration or form independently". The unions presented an urgent appeal to the TAR, which was rejected. Even the yellow vests, who wanted to march from the Bastille to the historic centre, concluding the procession at Place de l'Opéra, were denied approval for the route.