Macron on French Unrest: Nothing Justifies Violence at Protests

French President Emmanuel Macron said in an address to the nation on Sunday that nothing justifies the violence that accompanied nationwide protests against rising living costs and poor conditions in schools. At least 2,300 people have been arrested. The unrest is a major domestic test for the government ahead of next spring's presidential election.

Macron voiced the public's "anger" and "shame". He said looters would have to pay for the damage and that those who tried to bring down the Republic would be held accountable. He blamed "insurrectionist elements" from radical far-left groups, joined by many criminals.

Fires and looting

On Saturday, masked groups set fires and attacked public buildings, including city halls. In Limoges, in central France, flames engulfed the 19th-century City Hall, collapsing its roof and nearly destroying it. Elected officials, staff, security personnel and members of the public were inside at the time. In Marseille, protesters briefly forced their way into the City Hall lobby, and in Lyon a fire broke out inside a tourist office.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez cited the looting of hundreds of businesses in Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Bordeaux. In the Paris region, 855 people were arrested. On Sunday, hundreds gathered again at the Place de la République in Paris, where police used tear gas. One person died of a heart attack, and the Paris prosecutor's office is investigating.

Authorities say about 550,000 people took part nationwide; organisers put the figure at 800,000. The protests were called by a labour union, student organisations and activists hoping to revive the "yellow vest" movement, which emerged in 2018 against social injustice.

Political reaction

Far-right leader Marine Le Pen called the centrist government "exhausted, disoriented". Far-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon accused Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu of "playing with fire", while saying looters have no place in the movement. US President Donald Trump wrote "France is burning!" on social media, linking the unrest to immigration, although French authorities have not tied immigrants to the rioting.

Investigations were opened in Mulhouse and Saint-Étienne after a 17-year-old girl lost an eye and another young protester lost a hand.