Macron holds security meeting as France braces for weekend protests, with Lyon and Marseille banning demonstrations

Summary

French President Emmanuel Macron met intelligence chiefs on Thursday morning ahead of renewed protests, and the Prime Minister was due to meet political parties and mayors that afternoon, according to Euronews, which reports that protest bans and curfews remain in force. Politico reports that non-union protests will be banned on Saturday, with demonstrations banned outright in Lyon ahead of a planned day of protests at the weekend. France 24's live coverage reports that authorities in Lyon and Marseille are banning all protests on Saturday, and that Macron said France will ban 'illegitimate' protests in the coming days.

Timeline

1. Euronews

   22 Oct 2026, 09:08 UTCSource ↗

   Euronews reports that Macron met intelligence chiefs on Thursday morning ahead of renewed protests, that the Prime Minister is due to meet political parties and mayors in the afternoon, and that protest bans and curfews remain in force.

2. Politico

   22 Oct 2026, 12:00 UTCSource ↗

   Politico reports that non-union protests will be banned on Saturday in France, with demonstrations banned outright in Lyon ahead of a planned day of protests at the weekend.

3. France 24

   22 Oct 2026, 16:03 UTCSource ↗

   France 24's live coverage reports that authorities in Lyon and Marseille are banning all protests on Saturday, and that Macron said France will ban 'illegitimate' protests in the coming days.