Violent protests erupted across France on Saturday over education and the rising cost of living, leading to significant unrest in major cities. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez admitted that security forces struggled to manage the scale of the protests, resulting in nearly 2,400 arrests and about 1,000 police injuries. More than 1,500 shops were looted, and public buildings were set ablaze.
Nuñez resigned, taking responsibility for the chaos, but President Emmanuel Macron rejected his resignation, opting to keep him in charge to ensure order and implement measures against looting. In a televised address, Macron attributed the violence to far-left extremists and called it “unbridled violence.”
Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin reported on Monday that 2,331 people had been taken into custody, with 70 per cent being known to the police. He noted that France’s security services excelled at handling terrorism but struggled with far-left protests, acknowledging their failures.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu is set to hold a crisis cabinet meeting to evaluate the situation. The violence has impacted over 2,000 businesses, with damages expected to reach hundreds of millions of euros. Initially, 1,500 businesses were reported affected, but the number is anticipated to increase as incidents are reported from other towns, including Paris, Marseille, and Lyon.
In Paris alone, over 30 shops were looted on Sunday, prompting Mayor Emmanuel Grégoire to describe the situation as “unbearable.” Investigators are reviewing security camera footage and social media, while police have formed a task force to gather evidence. Commerce Minister Serge Papin is scheduled to meet with business representatives to discuss the aftermath of the violence.
The protests, initially sparked by rising living costs, also included calls from student unions and trade unions for better educational conditions. The interior ministry estimated around 550,000 participants nationwide, while the left-wing CGT union claimed the number was closer to 800,000. Although most demonstrations remained peaceful, violence erupted as black-clad activists, known as “black blocs,” and young vandals engaged in destructive behaviour.
