Jooish

French President Emmanuel Macron expressed outrage Sunday evening over the extraordinary wave of rioting that has engulfed France, leaving more than 2,000 people under arrest, hundreds of security personnel injured, and numerous buildings and businesses damaged or destroyed. In a nationally televised address, Macron condemned the widespread arson, looting and attacks on police, promising criminal prosecutions and ordering an investigation into whether authorities had failed to anticipate the scale of the violence.

The French leader spoke after mass demonstrations against soaring living expenses and reductions in public services descended into some of the country’s worst street violence in years. Although hundreds of thousands of protesters participated peacefully, groups of rioters rampaged through Paris and other major cities, setting fires, ransacking stores and attacking government buildings.

“How can French people do this to France?” Macron asked, expressing disbelief at the scenes of destruction that had unfolded across the country.

“When we look at these images, we all ask ourselves what was going through their minds. Nothing justifies this, nothing explains it, and nothing can serve as an excuse for it. Tonight, we all feel anger and shame,” he said.

Macron declared that individuals responsible for the destruction would face legal consequences, emphasizing that the right to demonstrate cannot be used to justify violence against police officers, government institutions or private property. He warned that attempts to undermine the institutions of the French republic would be met with a firm response from the authorities.

The president also acknowledged mounting criticism of the government’s handling of the unrest, announcing a review of possible intelligence and operational failures that may have left security forces unprepared for the widespread disturbances.

Police struggled to respond to simultaneous outbreaks of violence across numerous locations, with officers confronting rioters who attacked businesses, set vehicles ablaze and damaged public facilities. The scale and geographic spread of the disorder raised serious questions about whether law enforcement agencies had sufficient personnel and resources to maintain control.

Among the most devastating incidents was the destruction of the historic city hall in Limoges, where rioters stormed the 19th-century municipal building and set it on fire. Flames spread through the structure, destroying much of its interior and roof and causing its prominent clock tower to collapse.

The building, inaugurated in 1883, had survived both world wars before suffering catastrophic damage during Saturday’s disturbances. Local officials described the destruction as a devastating blow to the city’s architectural and cultural heritage.

Limoges Mayor Guillaume Guérin accused authorities of failing to provide sufficient police protection, saying officers had been overwhelmed while attempting to contain violent groups elsewhere in the city. He claimed that rioters threatened municipal employees and elected officials as they forced their way into the building.

The destruction extended well beyond Limoges. In Marseille, masked demonstrators broke into city hall and vandalized its interior, while rioters in Lyon set fire to the city’s tourism office. Bordeaux, Lille and other cities also experienced attacks on public buildings and commercial establishments.

Paris witnessed extensive clashes between police and violent demonstrators, particularly around Place de la République, where officers deployed tear gas and water cannons. Shops were broken into and looted, vehicles were burned, and streets were left covered with shattered glass and debris.

Business organizations reported that more than 1,500 shops and commercial establishments had been damaged or ransacked, with financial losses estimated in the tens of millions of euros. Retailers and local officials began assessing the destruction as cleanup operations continued Sunday.

French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez reported that approximately 2,000 people had been arrested in connection with the violence, while around 600 police officers, gendarmes and firefighters had sustained injuries. The figures were described as preliminary, with additional arrests and updated casualty totals expected as authorities continued their investigations.

Later reports placed the number of arrests above 2,400, illustrating the extraordinary scale of the security operation undertaken in response to the disturbances.

The unrest also left demonstrators seriously injured. Among the reported incidents was a 17-year-old boy in Saint-Étienne who lost a hand after being struck by a crowd-control grenade, intensifying criticism of police tactics during the confrontations.

The demonstrations originally centered on growing public frustration over inflation, household expenses, government spending cuts and deteriorating public services. Students, teachers, workers and other groups joined the nationwide protests, which drew an estimated 550,000 participants according to government figures. Organizers maintained that attendance was closer to 800,000.

Much of the protest activity remained peaceful, but authorities accused organized extremist groups and opportunistic criminals of exploiting the gatherings to engage in violence and destruction.

Nuñez specifically blamed several thousand far-left activists for attacks on police and government buildings, saying criminal elements had joined them in looting commercial establishments.

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu similarly condemned the violence, insisting that legitimate public grievances could not excuse attacks on public institutions or the destruction of private businesses. The government has also discussed measures that would require convicted vandals to contribute financially toward repairing the damage they caused.

Macron announced that regional government representatives and local authorities would receive expanded powers to prohibit certain gatherings when necessary to prevent further violence. The restrictions would be aimed at locations where officials believe additional disturbances are likely.

Despite his emphasis on law enforcement, the president also acknowledged the economic and social concerns underlying the demonstrations. He instructed the government to begin consultations with representatives of students, teachers, labor unions, employers and elected officials in an effort to identify practical responses to public dissatisfaction.

“We must sit around the table and build solutions together,” Macron said.

He did not announce specific economic concessions or new spending commitments, leaving open questions about how his government intends to address the grievances that brought such large crowds into the streets.

The political fallout has been immediate, with opposition parties offering sharply different assessments of the violence and the government’s responsibility.

Marine Le Pen and other right-wing political figures criticized the breakdown in public order and called for stronger measures to restore security. Some demanded that the government consider declaring a state of emergency, although Macron stopped short of taking that step.

On the left, Jean-Luc Mélenchon and his allies accused the government of mishandling the demonstrations and failing to distinguish adequately between peaceful protesters and violent groups. They also questioned whether insufficient police preparations contributed to the escalation.

The dispute has placed Lecornu’s government under intense pressure, with mayors in several major cities demanding additional resources and explanations for the apparent inability of security forces to protect public buildings and businesses.

Officials in Limoges have called for substantial government assistance to rebuild the destroyed city hall, while municipal authorities elsewhere are seeking support for damaged infrastructure and cleanup operations.

Lecornu has pledged that the Limoges city hall will be reconstructed, with the government working to restore municipal services and coordinate insurance compensation for the extensive losses.

The turmoil comes at a particularly sensitive moment for Macron, whose second presidential term is approaching its conclusion in 2027. With approximately six months remaining before France’s next presidential election, the violence has intensified an already bitter political debate over economic hardship, public security and the direction of the country.

Macron’s address sought to establish two priorities for the weeks ahead: prosecuting those responsible for the destruction while opening discussions with representatives of the peaceful protest movement. The immediate challenge facing his government is restoring public confidence after scenes of widespread disorder exposed serious weaknesses in France’s ability to contain coordinated outbreaks of violence.