France’s president announced that it will ban gatherings he considers illegitimate in the coming days.

Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday that in nationwide protests on Saturday, only gatherings organized by trade unions would be allowed.

Macron said: “Tomorrow a meeting of the Defense Council will be held under my chairmanship, and we will make further decisions.”

He blamed what he called “extremist left” groups, along with hooligans, for the unrest and looting that took place last Saturday across France.

According to a Reuters report, organized groups, including unions, are being offered alternative routes for marches so that businesses can be preserved.

Before announcing these decisions, Macron met with intelligence officials and senior ministers regarding the crisis.

Officials in Lyon banned “any kind of gathering” on Saturday. In Paris, a partial curfew is in place and gatherings on Monday were banned. A curfew in several northern cities of France has also been announced.