French President Emmanuel Macron has called for “calm and order” after nationwide protests over rising living costs, education funding and deteriorating public services escalated into riots, looting and deadly violence.
In a televised address from the Élysée Palace, Macron urged protesters not to escalate the situation, saying, “We all feel anger and shame.” He stressed that a distinction must be made between the “legitimate demands” of demonstrators and those responsible for destruction and looting.
According to the information provided, more than 550,000 people took to the streets across France on Saturday. While most demonstrations remained peaceful, violence erupted in several cities as night fell. Police reportedly arrested more than 2,000 people over the weekend, with around 2,400 arrests cited by the Interior Ministry.
Masked groups vandalized shops, set fire to vehicles and damaged public buildings in Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Limoges. In Limoges, a fire caused the spire of a 143-year-old town hall to collapse. Police used tear gas to disperse crowds as clashes continued in parts of Paris on Sunday.
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Macron condemned the violence, declaring that “nothing justifies” such destruction and promising that those responsible would face justice. He also pledged to hold meetings during the week to discuss concrete measures to address public grievances.
The protests initially began in September with student and teacher strikes demanding more staff and better resources in schools in the Paris suburbs. The movement subsequently expanded nationwide, fueled by concerns over overcrowded classrooms, staff shortages, inflation, unemployment and economic inequality.
Anger intensified after footage circulated showing a police officer using a prohibited headlock on a girl, prompting accusations of excessive force and drawing more people into the demonstrations.
The unrest has placed Macron’s government under growing political pressure, with critics questioning whether authorities adequately anticipated the scale of the protests. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu was expected to hold a crisis cabinet meeting on Monday to discuss the situation.
Political leaders have offered contrasting responses. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen accused the far left of exploiting public anger, while left-wing leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon defended students’ right to demonstrate. Authorities in Marseille also announced restrictions on gatherings in anticipation of further unrest.
The protests come amid wider discontent across Europe over rising living costs, housing shortages and public services. Demonstrations were also reported in Belgium, Portugal, Italy and Albania, where economic and political grievances contributed to public unrest.
The situation has raised concerns about the French government’s ability to restore public order while addressing the underlying economic and social problems driving the demonstrations.
