Paris bans protests in central areas after weekend riots

French police have banned protests in several parts of central Paris for Thursday, as the government tries to stop a fresh wave of violence after last weekend's riots, which officials have described as the worst street unrest in years.

The ban runs from 8am to 8pm and covers the Elysee presidential palace, both houses of parliament, the Louvre museum, the Champs-Elysees, Bastille and Republique squares, and the Chatelet-Les Halles shopping district, where looters struck over the weekend. Similar bans were imposed on planned student demonstrations in Paris and in Lyon, in the southeast.

The unrest followed more than half a million people marching nationwide on Saturday against the cost of living, after four weeks of student protests that shut many schools across France.

Macron hits at leaders 'campaigning at France's expense'

Speaking to reporters in Doha, President Emmanuel Macron appeared to aim at US President Donald Trump, and possibly Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, over comments about the riots. "There are people who campaign at France's expense — leaders who are in campaign mode, whether here in the region or on the other side of the Atlantic," he said.

Trump has linked the unrest to "migrants, jihadists and communists" while campaigning for his Republican Party ahead of the US midterms, and praised French far-right leader Marine Le Pen. Several analysts have dismissed the claim that migrants were driving the protests.

Le Pen, who leads in polls for France's 2027 presidential election, called Macron's remarks "conspiratorial" in a post on X. She said images from last Saturday were not generated by artificial intelligence but showed "the sad reality of what France has become" after what she called 10 years of Macronist rule.

Arrests, strikes and a ratings decision ahead

Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin said on Wednesday that of about 2,500 people taken into custody during and after the protests, 174 have been jailed and another 917 formally prosecuted.

Sophie Binet, leader of the hardline CGT union, met Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu on Wednesday and called for a "new phase" of protests, with strikes early next month. The Yellow Vest movement, which was behind last weekend's demonstrations, plans a march from Bastille square on Saturday and nationwide demonstrations on November 5.

The crisis has unsettled financial markets already worried about France's debt and deficit. The yield on France's benchmark 10-year bond passed five percent on Wednesday, and ratings agency Moody's is expected on Friday to lower its grade on French public debt.

Curfews in several cities have helped calm things but disrupted some late-night public transport. One Paris commuter, who gave only his first name, Louis, said finding his line closed was "quite disconcerting", but added that if it prevents more vandalism, "then yes, I think it is a good thing".

Neighbouring Italy and Belgium have seen smaller unrest. Italy's government has sent 500 troops to Milan to curb street violence there.

What happens next: Saturday's planned march and the November 5 demonstrations will test whether the bans and curfews hold, while Moody's decision on Friday could add pressure on France's borrowing costs.