President Emmanuel Macron is visiting Marseille on Monday on a surprise trip to observe the return of republican order following violent protests on October 17.
The unrest broke out during a citizen mobilization against the high cost of living that turned violent in the southern port city.
According to the French presidency, the head of state will visit Marseille city hall, which was targeted during the unrest, and meet local shopkeepers who were victimised by looters and rioters.
The presidency added that Macron will also greet and thank internal security forces whose intervention restored republican order. In France, internal security forces include the national police and the gendarmerie.
On Monday morning, hours before the presidential arrival, numerous shop windows in the city centre were still protected by plywood boards.
Marseille city hall violence
A close aide to the president said the visit was prompted by the fact that the unrest originated in Marseille on October 17, when protesters broke into the city hall and smashed a bust of Marianne.
The aide said the trip was aimed at showing that the state is present, standing firm, and determined to carry out its mission of public protection.
Marseille, France's second-largest city and a historic Mediterranean port, has frequently experienced social friction during times of economic strain. The destruction of the Marianne bust held deep symbolic significance across France, where the figure serves as the national personification of the republic, representing liberty and republican values.
Socialist mayor Benoît Payan had previously criticised the state for a lack of anticipation regarding public order policing following the tense events of October 17.
Political fallout and student talks
Both the French government and the outgoing president, who will step down in the spring, faced fierce criticism from opposition parties and figures within the presidential camp following what critics called a fiasco on October 17. Under French constitutional term limits, Macron must step down when his second mandate concludes in the spring.
Macron has moved to the front line of the response in recent days, chairing several meetings to improve the management of public order.
On Friday, the head of state met with high school student unions to listen to what he described as the legitimate expectations of youth.
Macron promised on Sunday that Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu and his ministers would immediately deliver very concrete responses to address those concerns.
Lecornu and his cabinet ministers are scheduled to meet with the student union representatives on Monday afternoon.
