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Denis Jacob, Secretary General of the Alternative Police Police Union, warned that about 30,000 people were expected to attend protests today in the French capital, on the occasion of the second weekend of "yellow vest" demonstrations that paralyzed the country. He warned that security forces feared that far-right and far-left activists would attend demonstrations to escalate tensions. He said: "We know that there are infiltrators of the far right and the far left. You can also expect suburban gangs and "black blocks". "
READ MORE: France: Violence breaks out while Emmanuel Macron refuses to back off
Approximately 3,000 police officers were recruited to oversee the events taking place today in Paris, which will also include a demonstration against sexual violence and a number of high-profile sporting matches.
Protesters wearing fluorescent yellow jackets – which all motorists in France are forced to carry in their cars – block roads across the country for over a week by burning barricades and through slow truck convoys .
They have also blocked fuel depots, shopping centers and some factories in France.
The unrest left two dead and 606 wounded in metropolitan France, the French Ministry of the Interior said Thursday. The demonstrations also spread to French territories abroad, especially to the island of Reunion, where cars were burned.
Protesters are unhappy with soaring prices for gasoline, which saw diesel costs rise by 16%, from 1.24 euro per liter on average to 1.48 euro, and even reach 1.53 euro in october.
President Macron also faced strong criticism of the taxes he had introduced last year on diesel and gasoline in an effort to encourage people to adopt fashions. transport more environmentally friendly.
In particular, taxes were increased by 8 cents last January on diesel and 4 cents on gasoline.
Taxes are also expected to rise by an additional 6.4 cents on diesel in 2019 and 2.9 cents on gasoline.
Authorities authorized Saturday demonstrations, next to the Eiffel Tower, but rejected requests to hold protests on Place de la Concorde.
Macron has already commented on the protests in these terms: "I hear anger and it's a fundamental right in our society to be able to express it."
However, French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner called the protests "political" and accused Republican Macron's opponents of being themselves.
He told BFMTV: "It's a political protest with the Republicans behind and it's irrational, as the rise in taxes has been offset by the decline in the oil market.
"We hear the protests, we hear anger, I know the situation, but we must explain that it is essential to get out of fossil fuels."
