Macron Appeals for Calm After France’s Worst Unrest in Years
Nearly 2,400 people were arrested, and almost 1,000 officers were injured as violence accompanied nationwide marches over living costs and public services.
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French President Emmanuel Macron called for calm on Sunday after nationwide protests over living costs and deteriorating public services were accompanied by some of France’s worst unrest in years, leaving nearly 2,400 people arrested.
Almost 1,000 police officers were injured, including seven seriously, according to the interior ministry. One demonstrator died after suffering a cardiac arrest in Paris on Saturday.
More than half a million people had joined marches across the country, bringing a month of student demonstrations together with wider anger over household costs and public services.
Hundreds of thousands marched peacefully as separate groups attacked businesses, government buildings and police.
Macron acknowledged the legitimacy of peaceful protesters’ concerns while condemning the destruction.
“Nothing justifies it, nothing explains it, nothing excuses it. Tonight, we all feel anger and shame,” he said in a televised address.
Protest Restrictions Considered
Macron declined to declare the state of emergency sought by some right-wing politicians.
He said the government would enable prefects to prohibit demonstrations where necessary to protect public buildings and businesses.
He also pledged to seek lower fuel prices during a visit to the Persian Gulf this week, but provided few details of measures to address protesters’ demands.
“Those who looted will have to pay back, and those who sought to bring down the Republic will be held accountable,” he said.
Violence fell sharply on Sunday, though further clashes and attempted looting were reported in Paris and Marseille.
Police used tear gas near Place de la République in the capital, where protesters set piles of bicycles alight.
Businesses and Public Buildings Hit
Alexandre Bompard, head of France’s commerce and distribution federation and Carrefour's chief executive, said 1,500 shops had been damaged or looted nationwide.
He estimated repair costs could reach hundreds of millions of dollars.
Carrefour alone reported damage to 50 stores, including 20 that were looted, with losses running into tens of millions of euros.
In Limoges, fire largely destroyed the 19th-century city hall and brought down its clock tower.
Mayor Guillaume Guerin told Reuters that national police deployments had been insufficient and threatened to resign unless the government provided funding for repairs.
Public buildings elsewhere were also attacked. Rioters entered local government headquarters in Marseille, while a fire destroyed a tourist office in Lyon.
Economy Minister Roland Lescure promised support for affected businesses.
Political Blame Intensifies
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu accused France Unbowed of encouraging student demonstrators to distrust the police.
Government officials attributed the violence to ultra-left groups and criminals exploiting the disorder.
France Unbowed leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon blamed the government’s handling of the crisis, while saying supporters of his movement should not participate in looting.
Marine Le Pen, the National Rally leader and polling frontrunner ahead of next year’s presidential election, also appealed for calm while accusing the far left of helping legitimize violence.
The unrest adds pressure on Macron as he approaches the end of his presidency in 2027. Some unions, including the CGT, have called for another nationwide demonstration on November 5.
Ahmet Koçak
Ahmet Koçak is a news editor at Clash Report based in Istanbul. He previously served as Deputy Managing Editor at Türkiye Today, helping launch the digital news platform in 2023, and spent three years as Senior Editor at Daily Sabah. His work focuses on breaking news, geopolitics, international affairs, and digital journalism.
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