{"text":[[{"start":6.96,"text":"France is deploying a force of 70,000 police officers to monitor another wave of protests on Saturday in a test of the government’s ability to ensure public order after rioting and looting broke out across the country last weekend."}],[{"start":20.38,"text":"There will be roughly 20 per cent more police officers on the streets, interior minister Laurent Nuñez said, backed up by specialist units usually deployed on counterterrorism or other missions. Soldiers will help guard sensitive buildings and transport hubs."}],[{"start":35.02,"text":"“We are ready for tomorrow,” said Nuñez on Friday. “We will be extremely vigilant, extremely firm and we will let absolutely nothing pass.”"}],[{"start":44.04,"text":"The increased security presence comes after a gunman killed one person and injured five others on Friday in Trappes, a city west of Paris, in an attack that French President Emmanuel Macron said was racially motivated. The incident heightened tensions after last weekend’s protests spiralled out of control."}],[{"start":61.96,"text":"The government was forced to admit that it botched the police response last Saturday when an inadequate deployment was overwhelmed by a radical fringe of protesters who were later joined by what it called “opportunistic looters”. About 3,000 stores were looted and 2,300 people were arrested on Saturday alone."}],[{"start":80.48,"text":"Attackers torched the tourist office in Lyon and nearly destroyed the historic town hall of Limoges. Two suspects accused by the police of being affiliated with “ultra-leftist” groups have since been arrested on suspicion of taking part in the Limoges blaze."}],[{"start":93.92,"text":"Nuñez said authorities had identified numerous online messages from radical leftist groups encouraging violence and vowing to target public buildings again on Saturday."}],[{"start":102.8,"text":"“We are not talking about a nice, friendly demonstration,” he said."}],[{"start":107.2,"text":"Limited curfews in areas of Paris and other big cities have helped keep the streets quiet this week."}],[{"start":112.76,"text":"High school students initiated the current wave of protests several weeks ago when they blockaded campuses to denounce poor education conditions. But the demonstrations have since morphed into a wider wave of discontent over high living costs, particularly petrol prices, and Macron’s presidency."}],[{"start":129.8,"text":"The October 17 protests were not organised by mainstream labour unions but took shape out of a grassroots social media campaign. Some 500,000 people turned out, far more than authorities had expected."}],[{"start":137.56,"text":"Local officials have banned protests this weekend in many of France’s biggest cities, such as Marseille, Lyon and Nice. Only protests organised by labour unions, which are seen as capable of helping to maintain order, have been permitted. In Paris, a group of unions was set to lead one, but negotiations with officials over the route broke down on Friday, casting uncertainty over the plans."}],[{"start":163.54,"text":"This approach is far more restrictive than usual in France, where the right to protest is protected under the constitution. The government can ban marches when there is a serious threat to public order."}],[{"start":173.88,"text":"A particular focus will be on Orléans in central France, where the far-right Rassemblement National is holding its party congress. Leftwing groups, parties and labour unions are planning a counter-protest that could attract up to 30,000 people, prompting authorities to deploy a large security force in the city to prevent clashes."}],[{"start":193.92,"text":"The deployment of 70,000 officers is considerable, far bigger than the 45,000 that were sent out to calm riots in 2023 after a police shooting that killed a teenager. During the height of the so-called Gilets Jaunes or yellow vest protests in 2018, the government was forced to deploy roughly 90,000 officers."}],[{"start":214,"text":"In Italy, authorities were also bracing for more protests on Saturday, with authorities seeking to avoid the rioting and looting seen in Milan and other northern cities last weekend. Activists calling themselves the October 17 Movement have used social media to call for continued protests every Saturday until Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government collapses."}],[{"start":235.52,"text":"Five hundred paratroopers have been dispatched to Milan but the heavily armed soldiers can only serve as a visual deterrent, as they are not authorised to engage in crowd control or make arrests."}],[{"start":246.04,"text":"Additional reporting by Amy Kazmin in Rome"}],[{"start":252.6,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1792828621_2135.mp3"}