Politics · France · 4 hrs ago
Paris police change approved route for 24 October march
Paris police withdrew approval for a march route agreed with trade unions for Saturday, 24 October.
The march was due to go from Place de la Bastille to Place de la Nation, in eastern Paris.
Authorities offered a route from Porte d’Italie to Porte de Vincennes instead, but the inter-union group rejected it.
The march is part of protests over falling purchasing power, including concerns about rising fuel prices.
The route change follows violent incidents during demonstrations in Paris the previous week, and authorities have restricted protests in several other cities.
Trade unions plan to challenge the decision in court on Saturday, while police have authorised a demonstration on the alternative route from 1 p.m.
to 7 p.m.
Paris police approved a trade union march from Bastille to Nation on October 24, then banned that route the following day.
The police offered an alternative route from Porte d’Italie to Porte de Vincennes, which the inter-union group rejected.
The unions said they would challenge the change in court on October 24.
The police authorized the march to take place from 13:00 to 19:00 on the alternative route.
The dispute followed violent incidents at demonstrations in Paris on October 17 and 18.
- Who
- Paris police and the inter-union group, including the CGT, are at odds over the march route.
- What
- Police reversed approval of a Bastille-to-Nation route and proposed an alternative that the unions rejected.
- When
- The march is scheduled for October 24, 2026. Police changed the route on October 23.
- Where
- Paris, France. The approved route ran from Place de la Bastille to Place de la Nation.
- Why
- Police cited public-order concerns after incidents at recent demonstrations. The unions objected to the change and said it raised safety concerns.
Paris police prefecture
Inter-union group
Route
Paris police prefecture
Police withdrew approval for the Bastille-to-Nation route and offered a route between Porte d’Italie and Porte de Vincennes.
Inter-union group
The unions rejected the alternative and planned to challenge the route change in court.
Reasoning
Paris police prefecture
Police cited incidents at recent demonstrations and the need to maintain public order.
Inter-union group
The Fage said reversing a negotiated route could weaken safety conditions and raise concerns about the right to demonstrate.
Paris police approved the CGT-proposed march route from Bastille to Nation.
Police withdrew approval for the route and proposed an alternative between Porte d’Italie and Porte de Vincennes.
The inter-union group planned to file a legal challenge against the route change.
Police authorized a march on the alternative route.
- Original route
- Place de la Bastille to Place de la Nation
- Alternative route
- Porte d’Italie to Porte de Vincennes
- Authorized hours
- 13:00–19:00 on October 24
- Legal challenge
- Planned by the inter-union group for October 24
- Police deployment
- Around 70,000 police officers and gendarmes across France on October 24
7 sources
Trade unions banned from marching in Paris on agreed route — radio
Mobilisation du 24 octobre : un référé déposé samedi matin par l'intersyndicale contre le changement de parcours de la manifestation à Paris
70.000 policiers, parcours, transports... À quoi faut-il s'attendre pour la journée du 24 octobre ?
Manifestation du 24 octobre à Paris : voici le parcours autorisé par la préfecture, entre Bastille et Nation
What people are saying
This last-minute reversal is unacceptable.
This reversal creates more confusion, and therefore more danger, more safety problems.
all those who wish to express their demands will therefore be able to do so within this framework
will be very much present at Bastille from noon