France braces for fourth weekend of protests before Monday's social talks

France braces for further protests Saturday, the fourth consecutive weekend of unrest, with Paris as the epicenter. The demonstrations aim to pressure the government ahead of Monday's social conference with unions and employers. Thursday's nationwide union-led march drew between 575,000 and 1.6 million people demanding higher purchasing power. Saturday's actions include an authorized youth-focused march and a separate, banned gathering by "gilets jaunes" at Place de la Concorde, who vow "massive disobedience." Authorities maintain a heavy security deployment of 70,000 police, with many city centers under protest bans. The movement's future hinges on government responses expected Monday, though unions warn that only concrete answers on wages and the minimum wage will halt the mobilization.