French president Emmanuel Macron said the right to protest goes hand in hand with 'respect for people and property'. (EPA Images pic)PARIS: President Emmanuel Macron called for calm on the eve of nationwide cost-of-living protests Saturday that authorities fear could lead to a violent escalation of weeks of student demonstrations.
With the rallies promising a fraught six month run-in to the country's presidential election, Paris authorities banned protests in the heart of the capital.
The country's Yellow Vest movement, which eight years ago staged street protests against Macron's government, called Saturday's "yellow and youth" demonstrations.
It has appealed to teachers and students, workers, pensioners and farmers to take part.
