Reader Q&A: What comes next for France after weekend riots? Europe columnists take questions
Join Friday’s discussion
Rokhaya Diallo and Alexander Hurst are scheduled to take questions from readers at 3pm BST, or 4pm CEST, on Friday 23 October. Readers can email questions to conversations@theguardian.com or take part in the discussion on Friday.
Comments are due to open at 0900 BST that day. Questions can also be sent by email before the discussion begins.
Riots and their effects
The unrest came after weeks of protests and a weekend of rioting. A town hall was set on fire, more than 2,000 shops were looted, 2,300 people were arrested and 1,000 police officers were injured.
The violence has unsettled investors and was followed by a sell-off in French debt. Borrowing costs rose above Greece’s, while concerns about the social and economic effects continue.
Election questions loom
The presidential election is six months away, and the unrest has prompted debate about its possible effect on voters. Paul Taylor wrote that the violence could increase support for a law-and-order response and help Marine Le Pen’s prospects.
Taylor also suggested that worsening financial conditions could shift attention toward economic management, potentially benefiting a candidate with a more conventional fiscal approach. Readers are invited to consider the riots’ causes and aftermath, and whether Emmanuel Macron can respond meaningfully during his final months in office.
Key points
- Rokhaya Diallo and Alexander Hurst will take reader questions on Friday 23 October.
- The discussion starts at 3pm BST, with comments opening at 0900 BST.
- The riots brought arrests, police injuries, shop looting and a town hall fire.
- The unrest has intensified debate about France’s economy and the coming presidential election.