France to toughen sanctions against unauthorised demonstrations

French authorities are making moves to toughen sanctions on undeclared protests in response to violent “yellow-vest” demonstrations in recent weeks.

The move was announced by Prime Minister Edouard Philippe on Monday in a hardening of the government’s stance over the spate of unrest in the country.

The French PM made the declaration after rioters torched motorbikes and set barricades ablaze on Paris’s up market Boulevard Saint-Germain.

“We need to preserve the right to demonstrate in France and we must sanction those who break the law,” Philippe told TF1 television.

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“That’s why the government favours updating the law in order to sanction those who do not respect this obligation to declare protests, those who take part in undeclared protests, those who arrive at protests with balaclavas,” Philippe said.

Recall that French authorities struggled to maintain law and order during weekend protests over diesel taxes and the high cost of living standards in the country.

Reports say anti-government protesters used a forklift truck to force their way into a government ministry compound, torching cars near the Champs Elysees.

In another incident, there was a violent skirmish on a bridge over the Seine as demonstrators punched and kicked riot police officers to the ground.

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