France restricts Saturday protests to union-organized events

France will only permit demonstrations organized by trade unions on Saturday, following recent riots. Local authorities in Lyon have imposed a total ban on all demonstrations. President Emmanuel Macron announced the decision Thursday after a security meeting, stating unauthorized protests will be banned wherever possible. Permitted demonstrations will be restricted to designated routes, such as the Nation-to-Bastille stretch in Paris, while the "Yellow Vests" movement's requested route was denied. Security forces will be 20 percent larger than on October 17. Paris authorities have urged shop owners to remove loose objects like bins and outdoor furniture ahead of expected protests. Socialist Party leader Olivier Faure criticized the government's security-only response, calling for political answers to demonstrators' demands during a meeting of political parties Thursday afternoon.