French PM vows stronger security as country prepares for more protests

Both the French Prime Minister Sébastien Le Cornu and Interior Minister Laurent Nunez faced tough questions over the handling of last weekend's violence from members of Parliament on Tuesday. Le Cornu has promised a massive deployment of police for future protests, while Nunez says the military will be used to back up the security forces. France 24's Ellen Gainsford joins us live now from the Hôtel Matignon, the French Prime Minister's office. Good morning, Ellen. What's likely to be discussed at this meeting between Sébastien Lecornu and France's trade union leaders? Well, that's right, Oliver. So the French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu is set to receive the leaders of French workers' unions this morning here at Hotel Matignon at around 10.30 a.m. We know that many of these leaders are frustrated by what they see as the distraction of the weekend's rioting and looting from the main issue of the day, which is, of course, the cost of living crisis. And they'll be coming to the Prime Minister with their demands. And we know that the CFDT union, that they're calling for a raise to the SMIC, that's the French minimum wage. They want that to be upped by about 100 euros a month. And they've also said that they're frustrated that representatives from French student unions won't be present today. And they still think that their issues related to them should be discussed. Well, for the French Prime Minister, we heard from him yesterday addressing the French National Assembly. He said that he would be happy to discuss the budget with union leaders today. Well, of course, that budget is undergoing its first reading in Parliament at the moment. But he said that reflections could be made potentially upon its second reading, which indicated that maybe he's open to some sort of compromise on some issues with union leaders. And, of course, the second big issue that he's going to be keen to talk about is that a planned day of protesting and striking for the 5th of November. And he's going to want to avoid repeating the images that we saw at the weekend of the violence and looting. Well, union leaders have said that they are keen to maintain this day. And we've heard from the head of Force Ouvrière who said that to cancel it would only mean giving in to the rioters and looters themselves.