France braces for more protests as Macron meets student leaders

France is bracing for a weekend of new protests after violent clashes erupted during demonstrations a week ago, prompting President Emmanuel Macron to restrict authorized marches and convene a defense council to restore order. Macron will meet with high school student representatives for the first time, addressing their demands over school conditions and the Parcoursup university admissions system, while authorities have banned protests in Marseille and Lyon and limited Paris to a set route. Courts have already imprisoned 217 people, and Macron has accused "ultra-left" groups of seeking to destabilize the republic. The unrest has boosted far-right candidate Marine Le Pen, who leads polls with 33-35 percent support ahead of elections, with her party congress in Orleans this weekend raising fears of clashes. Museums like the Louvre will close Saturday, and 20 percent more security forces will be deployed after criticism of police intelligence gathering.