Politics · France · 45 mins ago
French PM meets unions after disturbances at protests
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu is meeting trade unions on Wednesday, 21 October 2026.
He said the meeting is intended to help guarantee the freedom to demonstrate.
It follows disturbances around protests on 17 October.
The source does not say who was involved in those disturbances or what happened.
The meeting comes ahead of further demonstrations.
It focuses on protecting the right to protest.
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu is meeting representatives of five unions on October 21 to discuss security at protests and the freedom to demonstrate.
The meeting follows disturbances during protests on October 17, including clashes, looting and fires, and a further night of local curfews.
Lecornu has promised a “massive” police deployment for protests planned on October 24.
High school students were not invited to the meeting, and the CFDT and CGT unions deplored their absence.
Labour unions have announced another demonstration for November 5.
- Who
- Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu and representatives of five unions.
- What
- They are meeting to discuss protest security and the freedom to demonstrate.
- When
- October 21, 2026.
- Where
- Matignon, the prime minister’s office in Paris.
- Why
- To discuss security after disturbances at protests on October 17 and prepare for further demonstrations.
The government
The unions
Meeting scope
The government
Lecornu plans to discuss securing demonstrations and the freedom to demonstrate.
The unions
The CFDT and CGT deplored the absence of student organisations from the meeting.
Protests were followed by disturbances, including fires and clashes.
French authorities announced partial curfews in Paris and other cities.
Lawmakers agreed to launch a parliamentary inquiry into the unrest.
Lecornu is meeting representatives of five unions to discuss protest security.
Further protests over rising living costs are planned.
Labour unions have called another demonstration.
- Union representatives
- Five unions: CFDT, CGT, FO, CFTC and CFE-CGC
- Planned police deployment
- Lecornu described it as “massive
- Next protests
- October 24
- Further union demonstration
- November 5
- Meeting location
- Matignon, Paris
5 sources
En recevant les syndicats, le gouvernement espère à la fois apaiser les tensions et leur redonner un rôle central dans la sortie de crise
Les syndicats annoncent une manifestation pacifique le 5 novembre
French PM to meet unions as government prepares for more protests
Le Premier ministre Sébastien Lecornu reçoit les syndicats, avant de prochaines manifestations
What people are saying
The deployment for next Saturday will be massive.
the indispensable freedom to demonstrate
The doctrine (...) will be reviewed in terms of resources, in volume of course, in terms of forces deployed and in terms of responsiveness, mobility, to confront, impact these groups that disperse the security forces in an (...) extremely planned way