After Rioting Over Prices and Services, Macron Calls for Calm in France and Warns Violence Must Not Escalate

Protests turn to disorder

The demonstrations began with students last month and grew on Saturday as trade union members and other anti-government groups joined. The protests were largely peaceful, with some 550,000 people taking to the streets over rising fuel prices, the cost of living and deteriorating public services, including schools.

Groups of rioters, some wearing masks and balaclavas, were reported in Paris, Marseille and other cities. Cars and buildings were set alight, while bottles and rocks were thrown at police. AFP reported that tear gas and stun grenades were used against hundreds of people in Paris.

Arrests and police injuries

France’s interior ministry said police had arrested about 2,400 people. It also reported that about 1,000 officers were injured on Saturday, including seven who were seriously hurt. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said demonstrating was a fundamental right, but described “outrages” by what he called “several thousand far-left individuals” intent on targeting public buildings and confronting police. Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of La France Insoumise, criticised Nuñez and police chiefs on social media.

Damage across the country

On Sunday, cities faced the aftermath of the unrest. Widespread looting was reported in Paris, Marseille and Lille, among other areas, while shopkeepers in Paris picked up broken glass and rubbish trucks cleared debris from major streets. Riot police returned to the capital.

In Limoges, local officials said the town hall was “largely lost” after a fire caused part of the building to collapse. Resident Annèyse, speaking near the damaged site, said harming heritage buildings out of anger at the government was selfish and hurt everyone.

Calls for calm and transparency

Macron chaired an inter-ministerial crisis meeting at the Élysée Presidential Palace in Paris on Sunday. He called for calm and order and said there would be “full transparency” about the police response to the demonstrations.

Marine Le Pen, leader of the National Rally, condemned what she called the “exploitation” of anger by political forces that encourage violence. The competing responses came as officials assessed the destruction and disorder continued in parts of the country.