France's Macron vows no repeat of riots as Yellow Vests mobilise
TLT•Macron pledged to prevent a repeat of last weekend's riots as Yellow Vests filed plans for a Paris march on Saturday. French 10-year government bond yields rose to 5%, their highest level since July 2002, as unrest raised concerns about public finances.
1. March plans and security
The Yellow Vests filed plans for a march through central Paris on Saturday, while student groups also called for protests. Macron said people seeking to cause disorder would be stopped, and the government said troops would reinforce additional police after acknowledging shortcomings in its response to last weekend's violence.
2. Bond yields rise
French government borrowing costs climbed this week, with benchmark 10-year bond yields reaching 5%, their highest level since July 2002. Analysts said the move reflected concerns that unrest could complicate efforts to repair strained public finances as budget pressures mount.
3. Calls for a political response
Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu met union leaders on Wednesday. CGT head Sophie Binet said there was “huge and legitimate anger” and that the response should be political, not repression; after the meeting, she said the government made no new announcements but would invite youth organisations for talks.
