France deploys more police after protest bans across cities

French authorities have issued protest bans in cities across France ahead of another weekend of planned demonstrations, with President Emmanuel Macron announcing curfews and other security measures after chairing a meeting of key ministers and intelligence officials. Macron blamed "organised ultra-left groups aiming to bring down the republic" for the worst violence, accusing them of "sedition," and said a defence council meeting on Friday would decide next steps. The measures follow clashes, widespread looting, and vandalism that broke out on 17 October during mass demonstrations of over half a million people against the surging cost of living, with the government admitting police lost control. A Paris student protest on Thursday went ahead after an emergency court injunction overturned a police ban, while Marseille, Lyon, Grenoble, Rouen, Le Havre, and Toulon issued bans. The interior ministry said 20 per cent more police would be deployed this Saturday than last weekend. The unrest has become a political flashpoint ahead of presidential elections in six months, with far-right leader Marine Le Pen accusing Macron of being too soft, while far-left candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon blamed "non-stop brutal repression." Art Basel Paris and several museums, including the Louvre, will close this weekend, and authorities have jailed 217 of 2,700 arrested people, with 1,000 more being prosecuted.