Faced with fears of unrest, several cities have put in place exceptional security measures

Territorial intelligence fears possible disturbances to public order, urban violence or clashes between activists in several cities. Here is what you need to know.

Police and gendarmerie reinforcements are being deployed throughout France for this second round of legislative elections on Sunday July 7, 30,000 police officers and gendarmes, including 5,000 in Paris and its suburbs, according to figures from the Ministry of the Interior.

Territorial intelligence fears possible disturbances to public order, urban violence or clashes between activists in city centres such as Nantes, Angers, Lyon, Rennes, Toulouse, Paris or Bordeaux.

Paris and its suburbs

The Paris police prefecture has also banned the demonstration planned for Sunday evening in front of the National Assembly, organised by the group Action anti-fasciste Paris-Banlieue, “accustomed to violent actions, degradation and aggression” according to the terms of the order published Thursday.

Precautionary instructions have been sent to shopkeepers, particularly on the Bastille-République axis in anticipation of crowd movements. On franceinfo, a shopkeeper from the center of Paris confided that she had received instructions from the police: “The shop is located between Bastille and République, we have a lot of demonstrations. And the police told us that if it started to spread, we had to close absolutely“, explained Laurine, in a shoe store.

Bordeaux

“All undeclared protest gatherings in the city centre of Bordeaux” are prohibited from 6 p.m. Sunday until 6 a.m. Monday by the Gironde prefect. The purchase, sale, carrying and use of fireworks or pyrotechnic articles are not authorized. Law enforcement may use drones equipped with cameras.

These measures follow the overflows “committed in the city centre of Bordeaux following the results of the first round of the legislative elections on 30 June (burning of rubbish bins, barricades, throwing of projectiles)”according to the prefectural decree published on Friday.

Toulouse

The prefect of Haute-Garonne has banned any demonstrations not previously declared in the city centre this Sunday evening, starting at 6pm, in the context of the second round of legislative elections. The prefecture fears excesses, as during the European elections of 9 June.

This ban particularly concerns the boulevards of Strasbourg, Arcole, the allées François Verdier and Charles de Fitte, the Saint-Michel and Catalans bridges.

Prefect Pierre-André Durand, who also authorizes law enforcement to use drones on certain boulevards, avenues and on the A64 and A620 motorways in particular.

Marseille

A reinforced security system is planned around the perimeter of the Old Port and the city center of Marseille. A demonstration is planned at 9:30 p.m. on the Old Port.