70 thousand police officers are on the streets in France. Yellow Vests march to the banned square

While trade unions and student groups in France are preparing to take to the streets again today, the Yellow Vest movement has called for a separate demonstration in the center of Paris, despite the ban imposed by the authorities.

The nationwide strikes that drew hundreds of thousands of workers to the streets against the high cost of living and the protests led by young people for weeks left France facing a new wave of protests.

With less than six months until the presidential elections, the far right is leading in opinion polls and debates over President Emmanuel Macron's successor continue.

Student representatives and workers' confederations planned an authorized march in central Paris to draw attention to rising living costs and provide support to young people.

Yellow Vest activists refused to join the unions' march and decided to hold a separate meeting in Concorde Square, close to the French National Assembly and the Elysee Palace.

The movement, which does not recognize the demonstration ban imposed by the security authorities for the region in question, calls on citizens to take a mass stand on the streets.

In his statement to the AFP agency, Benjamin Ball, a member of the Yellow Vests coordination committee, explained their attitude towards the upcoming demonstrations with the words, "We call for mass disobedience."

The movement, which was founded in France eight years ago in response to fuel tax increases and is known for broad-based actions against the Macron administration, argues that the unauthorized rally will definitely take place.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez announced that he would not allow illegal actions and possible incidents.

Nunez noted that 70 thousand police and gendarmerie elements will be assigned across the country today to protect public order.

Minister Nunez pointed out the scope of security measures and said, "If there are rioters or looters, we will be ready and waiting for them."

While the demonstrations in France were generally calm, clashes with the police and destruction of public property were recorded at the border of some demonstrations.

Following the October 17 demonstrations, which witnessed the most violent street clashes of recent years in the country, authorities became vigilant with the aim of preventing the recurrence of looting and violence.

While hundreds of thousands of striking workers held large-scale marches on the streets of the country on Thursday, there were clashes between demonstrators and police in various cities.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs announced that 642 people were detained during the protests on Thursday, but the day was generally controlled.