Macron urges calm as violent protests leave France in turmoil

French President Emmanuel Macron has called for calm and tighter security after nationwide demonstrations over rising living costs and deteriorating public services descended into violent clashes, looting and arson, leaving nearly 2,400 people arrested.

In a televised address on Sunday, October 18, Macron condemned the destruction and promised accountability for those responsible, while acknowledging that peaceful demonstrators had legitimate grievances.

“Tonight, we all feel anger and shame,” Macron said, distinguishing protesters with legitimate demands from those who destroyed property and looted businesses.

According to the French Interior Ministry, approximately 550,000 people took part in demonstrations across the country on Saturday.

The protests, which initially focused on worsening conditions in schools, expanded to include frustration over rising fuel prices, the cost of living and declining public services.

While many demonstrators marched peacefully, masked groups attacked businesses and public buildings, set vehicles alight and clashed with police in Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Lille and other cities.

The violence continued in parts of Paris on Sunday, where officers used tear gas to disperse crowds as some protesters threw bottles and stones.

Police were also deployed to prevent further looting and damage to public property.

The unrest caused particularly severe damage in Limoges, central France, where a fire gutted much of the city's historic 19th-century town hall.

In Lyon, a tourist office was also set ablaze, while businesses and other buildings were damaged in several cities.

The Interior Ministry said nearly 1,000 police officers and gendarmes were injured during Saturday's unrest, including seven who sustained serious injuries.

Authorities have continued investigating the violence and identifying those suspected of participating in attacks and looting.

The demonstrations have also raised questions about the police response.

Macron promised full transparency over the security forces’ handling of the protests and instructed Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez to draw lessons from the events, particularly concerning intelligence gathering and preparations for large crowds.

The president also pledged closer coordination with local mayors to protect public buildings and businesses, as the government faces pressure to restore order without dismissing public concerns.

The protests grew out of student-led demonstrations that began in September, with participants highlighting shortages and poor conditions in schools.

Trade unions and other groups subsequently joined the movement, broadening its demands to include economic hardship and concerns about government spending.

Al Jazeera reported that anger over school conditions had converged with wider frustration about household budgets and public services, turning the demonstrations into a broader political challenge for Macron’s government.

The scale of the unrest has revived memories of France’s 2018 Yellow Vest movement, which also began with anger over fuel costs and developed into a wider protest against economic inequality.

Macron has vowed that those responsible for violence will face justice, while the authorities work to restore order and assess the damage.