The government has tightened its rules ahead of the cost-of-living protests on Saturday, 24 October 2026, but a court has already overturned one of its bans. On Thursday, 22 October, Emmanuel Macron held a security council at the Élysée and then set out a new "doctrine": only protests organised at the request of trade unions can be authorised, while those requested by people who, in his words, have no legitimacy to do so will be banned.
A court suspends a ban in Paris
Paris police had banned a march called for the afternoon of 22 October by Interfac Ile-de-France, which brings together students from university general assemblies. The same day, the administrative court's judge in urgent matters ruled that "the order is suspended", without explaining the reasons. Coppélia Moreau, a member of Interfac, said the ban was an attempt to undermine the right to protest itself.
The ruling did not give the students back their route. The march was supposed to go from the Pitié-Salpêtrière hospital to the Bastille. But according to the Associated Press, the organisers signed a police document agreeing that the rally would stay in one place because of the risk of violence. Several thousand protesters gathered in south-east Paris under a heavy police presence. A separate order still banned undeclared gatherings in several parts of Paris from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on 22 October, notably around government buildings and the main railway stations.
The map for 24 October
In Paris, the police prefecture authorised a CGT-backed march from Bastille to Nation but banned a second march, declared by Interfac and the yellow vests, from Bastille to Opéra. The march will start at 2 p.m. at Place de la Bastille. Police chief Patrice Faure pointed to the abuses seen the previous weekend to justify the bans.
Organisers have announced 495 yellow vest actions for Saturday 24 October, including 352 marches, 59 gatherings at roundabouts, 25 at railway stations and 20 at petrol stations. Protests planned in Lyon and Marseille have been banned, and an order published on the evening of 22 October covers all of Bouches-du-Rhône. In Toulon, protests whether declared or not, will be banned in part of the city centre from 11 a.m. to midnight. Courts could still suspend some of these bans if they are challenged.
Macron steps in on 23 October
Macron is taking a more direct role on Friday, 23 October. He was due to chair a defence council at 9 a.m., where "additional decisions" on security are expected after the week's curfews and protest bans. At 3 p.m. he is due to receive high school students and representatives of their organisations at the Élysée to "listen to their demands and concerns". It is his first meeting with high school groups since the protests began, and it comes ahead of Prime Minister Lecornu, who is due to receive them on Monday, 26 October. Macron will also visit police officers. Lecornu is travelling to Limoges, which was hit especially hard on 17 October, when its town hall was set on fire.
Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin wants prosecutors to seek tougher penalties for rioters, including protest bans, suspension of civic rights and online bans. Critics say the president has gone too far: he faces criticism over the curfews and the ban on any protest not declared by unions.
The government has tightened its rules ahead of the cost-of-living protests on Saturday, 24 October 2026, but a court has already overturned one of its bans. On Thursday, 22 October, Emmanuel Macron held a security council at the Élysée and then set out a new "doctrine": only protests organised at the request of trade unions can be authorised, while those requested by people who, in his words, have no legitimacy to do so will be banned.
A court suspends a ban in Paris
Paris police had banned a march called for the afternoon of 22 October by Interfac Ile-de-France, which brings together students from university general assemblies. The same day, the administrative court's judge in urgent matters ruled that "the order is suspended", without explaining the reasons. Coppélia Moreau, a member of Interfac, said the ban was an attempt to undermine the right to protest itself.
The ruling did not give the students back their route. The march was supposed to go from the Pitié-Salpêtrière hospital to the Bastille. But according to the Associated Press, the organisers signed a police document agreeing that the rally would stay in one place because of the risk of violence. Several thousand protesters gathered in south-east Paris under a heavy police presence. A separate order still banned undeclared gatherings in several parts of Paris from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on 22 October, notably around government buildings and the main railway stations.
The map for 24 October
In Paris, the police prefecture authorised a CGT-backed march from Bastille to Nation but banned a second march, declared by Interfac and the yellow vests, from Bastille to Opéra. The march will start at 2 p.m. at Place de la Bastille. Police chief Patrice Faure pointed to the abuses seen the previous weekend to justify the bans.
Organisers have announced 495 yellow vest actions for Saturday 24 October, including 352 marches, 59 gatherings at roundabouts, 25 at railway stations and 20 at petrol stations. Protests planned in Lyon and Marseille have been banned, and an order published on the evening of 22 October covers all of Bouches-du-Rhône. In Toulon, protests whether declared or not, will be banned in part of the city centre from 11 a.m. to midnight. Courts could still suspend some of these bans if they are challenged.
Macron steps in on 23 October
Macron is taking a more direct role on Friday, 23 October. He was due to chair a defence council at 9 a.m., where "additional decisions" on security are expected after the week's curfews and protest bans. At 3 p.m. he is due to receive high school students and representatives of their organisations at the Élysée to "listen to their demands and concerns". It is his first meeting with high school groups since the protests began, and it comes ahead of Prime Minister Lecornu, who is due to receive them on Monday, 26 October. Macron will also visit police officers. Lecornu is travelling to Limoges, which was hit especially hard on 17 October, when its town hall was set on fire.
Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin wants prosecutors to seek tougher penalties for rioters, including protest bans, suspension of civic rights and online bans. Critics say the president has gone too far: he faces criticism over the curfews and the ban on any protest not declared by unions.
Sources