France, and especially Paris, is preparing for a potentially dangerous Saturday, September 21st, between climate marches, Act 45 of the Yellow Vests, Heritage Days and demonstration against the pension reform.

In Paris, the authorities say they fear a return of violence, as at the height of the movement of yellow vests. Police chief Didier Lallement announced a major security device, with 7,500 members of the police, water launchers, and the return to the streets of armored vehicles of the gendarmerie. And to launch: facing "people who obviously want to take revenge on I do not know which day", which "announce: 'we will not let go', I answer 'we will be there'".

A convergence of struggles?

The calls of groups Vests yellow to rise on the capital multiplied, some making openings to the ecologists. Who on their side intend to maintain pressure on the government after a historic "global climate strike", even if the mobilization was not huge in France.

Galvanized by the decision of a judge of Lyon who has released two "dropouts" of a portrait of Emmanuel Macron by qualifying their action as "legitimate", they intend to multiply actions of civil disobedience and require the government to stop the "blabla" and take radical measures to fight against global warming.

Some activists are beginning to hope for a "convergence", like Aurélie Trouvé from Attac, for whom "end of the world and end of the month concerns are articulated". Others seem more cautious, while the movement of "GJ" is fragmented ... and born of a refusal to increase fuel prices.

At least, some climate advocates and "vests" had planned a meeting at 09:00 Place de la Madeleine in Paris. A few hundred meters from the Champs-Elysees, one of the objectives posted "yellow vests" for Saturday.

But the gathering has been banned, as well as whole districts of the capital, from Friday 17H: Champs-Elysees / avenue of the Grande Armée, National Assembly, Hotel Matignon, Trocadero and Eiffel Tower, Senate, Notre-Dame cathedral and - for the first time - Bois de Vincennes and Bois de Boulogne.

At 13:00, a "march for climate and social justice" will leave Paris from the Luxembourg Gardens in the direction of Parc de Bercy, at the call of many NGOs. The organizers hope a strong mobilization, even if Friday's event on climate has gathered a little less than 10,000 people in the capital, according to a count of the firm Occurrence for media. Dozens of actions are planned all over France for this day of mobilization.

Upset Heritage Days

Saturday will also see a demonstration at the call of FO against the pension reform (starting 13:30 at Duroc metro) and the start of Heritage Days, which attract tens of thousands of visitors every year.

As a precaution, several monuments will remain closed, such as the Arc de Triomphe, seriously degraded in December by protesters, and, still in the area of ​​the Champs-Elysees, the museums of the Petit and Grand Palais. The Ministry of Education will also keep closed doors, while the Elysee will only be accessible by reservation.

With AFP