France will deploy thousands of police officers in and around Paris and will set up checkpoints on major roads leading into the capital to keep out Freedom Convoy motorists, Reuters reported.

Despite orders not to enter Paris, motorists protesting against COVID-19-related restrictions have been gathering in the French capital from various French cities, inspired by the demonstrations taking place in Canada.

But the French Freedom Convoy protests show signs of uniting a disparate group against President Emmanuel Macron two months before the presidential election in April, with remnants of the 2018/2019 anti-government Yellow Vests movement and some far-right politicians.

"We've been going around in circles for three years," said pensioner Jean-Marie Azais, part of a "Convoie de Liberte" headed to the capital from the southwest, in reference to France's anti-COVID strategy. "We saw the Canadians and said to ourselves, 'It's awesome, what they're doing.' In eight days, boom, something was sparked," he said.

The motorists' protest follows waves of demonstrations against vaccination certificates in France, which require people to show proof of COVID vaccination to enter bars, restaurants, cinemas and other public places.

Various convoys are expected to arrive in Paris later on Friday. Their number is unclear.

The police deployment will include rapid response officers on motorbikes and heavy equipment to dismantle any makeshift roadblocks erected by protesters.