Macron says France does not currently need a state of emergency

French President Emmanuel Macron said the country’s continuing protests do not currently require a state of emergency. He pledged firm action to maintain public order.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Macron said emergency powers could be used if circumstances required them. For now, he said, the aim was to restore calm using the available measures.

Macron also said he saw no clear signs of foreign interference in the protests themselves. He separately accused outside actors of manipulating information about the events and criticised comments by foreign leaders.

The protests began in mid-September with high-school students demonstrating over school conditions. They spread to other regions and drew people concerned about rising living costs. France’s Interior Ministry estimated that around 550,000 people took part in the nationwide demonstration on October 17.