French President Emmanuel Macron bet that a massive police presence could avoid a repeat of the violence that stunned the country on Oct. 17. He won that wager, but isn’t any closer to resolving underlying anger that’s fueled mass protests in France and shows few signs of abating.
Hundreds of thousands took part in the demonstrations across consecutive weekends, with turnout remaining high despite worries about further violence, Macron’s warning against action unless organized by labor unions, and poor weather.