Protests against rising living costs and poor conditions in schools spread across France at the weekend. Mainichi Shimbun reported that about 550,000 people joined demonstrations in Paris on Saturday, 17 October, and that some of them escalated into violence. Groups set fires and looted businesses in Paris, Lyon, Marseille and other cities, and on Sunday evening, 18 October, bins, bicycles and other objects were set alight in the streets. Authorities said groups of hundreds sought confrontations with police and targeted public buildings, including city halls and other public offices.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez submitted his resignation on Sunday, 18 October, saying he felt responsible for everything that had happened. Macron's office said on Monday, 19 October, that the president had turned it down, because law enforcement needed to keep its current command during the emergency. The Elysée also told Nuñez to be fully open about what went wrong in preparation and in intelligence before the violence. Macron acknowledged shortcomings in forecasting and intelligence, and wants new tactics deployed in the field without delay.
Speaking to France Inter on Monday, Nuñez acknowledged that authorities had lost control in some large cities on Saturday and that hundreds of businesses had been looted. He blamed groups of troublemakers, looters and far-left activists, and said police strategy must adapt to highly mobile groups. Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin told France 2 that the authorities had undoubtedly failed over the weekend and pointed to a gap in intelligence. He added that good policing depends on good intelligence work and said French services had not been able to counter the far left adequately.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has asked prefects to order some curfews, following the chaos and looting after Saturday's protests. In Marseille, the prefect banned any protest or gathering from noon to 8 p.m. on Monday. Protesters backing a high school students' movement blocked access to the Louvre on Monday morning, according to the museum management and unions speaking to AFP. Nuñez said 350 people had been taken into custody in Paris on 18 October and overnight after street clashes.
AP reported at least 2,400 arrests across the country, while an earlier Mainichi Shimbun report put the figure at approximately 800. Mainichi also reported that a 17-year-old boy lost his right hand when a grenade used by police for crowd control exploded. In Limoges, central France, a fire swept through the 19th-century city hall, causing its roof to collapse and leaving much of the building close to destruction. Macron condemned the violence on X, saying the government would act against those who create disorder and obstruct peaceful demonstrations.
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Protests against rising living costs turned into arson and looting in several French cities over the weekend. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, who said police had lost control in some places, offered his resignation, which Macron refused.
AI text based on reports by ANSA.it, AP NEWS, europa press and other publishers. Changed .