France braces for more nationwide protests as Yellow Vests urge 'mass disobedience'

French unions and student groups are set to take to the streets for another day of protests on Saturday, while the Yellow Vests movement plans a separate rally in central Paris despite a ban by authorities.

The demonstrations follow weeks of youth-led unrest and nationwide strikes that drew hundreds of thousands of workers protesting over the rising cost of living.

Paul Smith, Associate Professor in French history and politics at the University of Nottingham, and James André, France 24 reporter at Place de la République, share further insights.