PARIS: French police on Sunday released two leading figures in the Yellow Vest protest movement after arresting them this weekend as the movement sought to hold a protest in central Paris despite a ban near the Elysee Palace and parliament. Benjamin Ball, one of the movement's coordinators, and its spokeswoman, Azelma Sigaux, were detained by police on Saturday outside the National Assembly as the group tried to hold a protest on the nearby Place de la Concorde.
The protest by the Yellow Vests, a movement which rattled President Emmanuel Macron with regular street actions in the early phase of his presidency, was separate from a rally by unions and students that had been authorised. Security at the weekend protests over the rising cost of living has been tight since demonstrations on 17 October spiralled into violence across several major cities.
Some 70,000 police were deployed nationwide on Sunday to maintain public order and prevent unauthorized gatherings from disrupting traffic and commercial activities in the capital. "Twenty-four hours in police custody is completely disproportionate, given that they had merely called for an act of peaceful civil disobedience," said their lawyer, David Libeskind.
"They are accused of organising a prohibited demonstration; yet, they were not arrested at the site of the gathering," he noted, pointing to their arrest in front of the National Assembly rather than at Place de la Concorde. Azelma Sigaux said following her release: "Riot police descended upon us, even though our actions were entirely peaceful and aimed at drawing attention to economic hardships."
The Yellow Vests, who have surged to prominence again in the latest protests, are planning a "spectacular action" on 21 November to mark the anniversary of the movement that began in 2018, their lawyer said. Authorities have reiterated that any public gatherings must adhere strictly to legal frameworks and prior authorizations to ensure public safety and prevent further clashes.