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Macron Condemns Violence in Nationwide French Protests
· Confirmed
In Short: French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the violence during nationwide protests, vowing action against rioters and looters.
French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the violence during nationwide protests, vowing action against rioters and looters. According to Al Jazeera (Qatar), nearly 2,400 people were arrested on Saturday, with about 1,000 police and gendarmes injured.
Al Jazeera (Qatar) reported that Macron said there must be a distinction between protesters with “legitimate demands” and “those who destroyed, smashed, and looted.” He added that “lessons will be learned” after the destructive violence erupted this weekend.
India Today (India) reported that Macron appealed for calm on Sunday after a wave of violent unrest swept across France, leaving a trail of destruction, hundreds of damaged shops, and nearly 1,000 police officers injured.
Infonews (Canada) and Los Angeles Times reported that Macron denounced “unrestrained violence” by “insurrectionist elements from radical far-left groups, joined by numerous criminals.” He said he had instructed prefects to work with mayors to protect public buildings and businesses in the coming weeks, including by banning protests when necessary.
Riviera Radio (Monaco) reported that in an address to the nation, Macron said France is feeling “anger and shame” after what he called “incredible violence” in cities across the country.
According to Al Jazeera (Qatar), Macron promised to launch a “crisis unit” to provide “urgent aid … for those who are going through difficult moments.” He pledged to increase security but stopped short of announcing a state of emergency or curfew.
Macron vowed that rioters and looters would “pay for their crimes,” after Saturday saw some of the worst urban violence in France in years. He said the right to protest is a fundamental right, but deliberately and collectively sowing disorder through violence is not.
Left-wing presidential candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon said the French government is “solely responsible” for the destruction during protests, and has “failed to organise the maintenance of public order.” Far-right presidential hopeful Jordan Bardella called Macron’s Sunday speech “lamentable” and “cowardly,” saying the government has nothing left to offer the French people and “cannot even protect them.”
The protests are quickly becoming a political football for parties vying for public support ahead of presidential elections next year. According to Al Jazeera (Qatar), Macron’s speech had “perhaps no surprises,” and whether it will placate protesters remains uncertain.
The violence began on the sidelines of marches in the capital and other cities over the cost of living that the interior ministry said were attended by 550,000 people. According to Thelocal (France), Macron and his government were criticized by many of the demonstrators, who numbered 500,000 across the country, according to the CGT union.
Despite the differing reactions from political figures, all outlets agreed that the protests turned violent, with widespread destruction and injuries to law enforcement. Macron’s response focused on condemning the violence while maintaining the right to protest.
The protests have escalated into a significant political issue, with parties blaming each other for the unrest and the government promising increased security measures.
What this adds
The protests are quickly becoming a political football for parties vying for public support ahead of presidential elections next year.
Background
French President Emmanuel Macron warned that the unrest is being exploited for political gain, as protests turned violent across the country.
In a major day of protests across France, the tourism office in Lyon was set on fire as more than 160 protesters were arrested.
What's confirmed
- “Those who looted will have to pay for the damage, and those who sought to bring down the Republic will be held accountable,” Macron said in a televised address to the nation.
- He said he had instructed prefects to work with mayors to protect public buildings and businesses in the coming weeks, including by banning protests when necessary.
- French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, who earlier slammed the "violence of extreme intensity," said late Saturday that 1,200 people had been arrested and 150 police officers hurt.
- The article, written by Vincent Trémolet de Villers for the conservative newspaper Le Figaro and published Sunday afternoon local time, blamed years of political failures for contributing to the unrest and took particular aim at President Emmanuel Macron.
- Macron said on X late Saturday: "Those who carried out vandalism, attacked administrative offices or businesses, or carried out looting -- even in our town halls, will be prosecuted and punished."
What's still developing
- "Looting, ransacking, destroying and attacking law enforcement: Rioters have again spoiled the Oct. 17 demonstrations for the protection of purchasing power," Le Pen wrote on X.
- With just months to go before elections to replace President Emmanuel Macron, French authorities had been hoping that the protests would start to ease ahead of half-term holidays to start at the end of the week.
- PARIS: The student protest movement that has spread across France is now “out of control,” the Paris police chief said on Saturday, urging demonstrators to return to peaceful action and warning that authorities would respond firmly to violence and vandalism.
- “A judiciary that is lenient toward criminals but unrelenting toward decent citizens. The incomprehensible privilege of these far-left militias, who destroy, set fires, and kill with impunity,” the article stated, according to a translation.
- NANTERRE, France (AP) — Police clashed with protesters overnight just hours after French President Emmanuel Macron called the shooting death of a 17-year-old delivery driver by police “inexcusable” and pleaded for calm while justice takes its course.