French PM vows 'massive' police deployment for new demonstrations

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu on Tuesday (Oct 20) vowed a "massive" police presence at fresh protests called for the coming weekend, as he faced criticism over the handling of recent street violence.



The eurozone's second-largest economy was rocked on Saturday by some of its worst rioting in recent years, just six months before voters head to the polls to elect a successor to President Emmanuel Macron.



Facing angry lawmakers in parliament, Lecornu acknowledged that the security response had fallen short and promised a stronger approach ahead of a new wave of protests.



"The deployment for next Saturday will be massive," Lecornu said.

He accused ultra-left radical groups of forging an "insurrectionary plan" that led to the riots, which erupted on the sidelines of nationwide protests over the cost of living.