Macron Vows to Hold ‘Sowers of Chaos’ Accountable After France Erupts in Worst Unrest in Years
French President Emmanuel Macron addressed the nation on Sunday evening after one of the most violent nights of unrest in recent years, vowing that the full force of the law would be brought to bear on those who damaged property or participated in rioting. “Those who destroyed must pay,” Macron said. “Those who looted must pay back. Those who sought to bring down the Republic will be held accountable.” Macron described the violence as the work of “seditious elements from far-left factions, joined by numerous delinquents.” “Watching these images, we were all wondering: what had got into them? How can French people do that to France?” he said. “Nothing can justify it, explain it or excuse it. Tonight we all feel both anger and shame.” The president added that the government should listen to public grievances and that many protesters did not participate in violence. “Yesterday, hundreds of thousands of our compatriots demonstrated to state legitimate claims,” Macron said. “Never must we confuse the latter with those who destroyed and vandalized.”
The destruction followed what had been largely peaceful protests, which have grown out of sweeping student-led rallies that gripped parts of France last month, sparking a broader movement against crumbling schools, the spiking cost of living, and perceived government inaction. Some 550,000 protesters hit the streets across France, including 110,000 in Paris, according to Interior Minister Laurent Nunez. Police have detained more than 2,000 people, with more than 600 police officers injured, and at least two deaths connected to the rioting and protests over the weekend—a 22-year-old police officer in Nantes and one protester north of Paris. In Limoges, the 143-year-old town hall was set ablaze, with video showing its spire collapsing. In Marseille, masked protesters dressed all in black broke into city hall and defaced the building, and in Lyon, protesters torched the city’s tourist office. Alexandre Bompard, CEO of retail giant Carrefour, said around 1,500 stores across the country were affected by violence. Lawmakers and regional officials launched mounting criticism over the government’s law enforcement plan, with French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu set to meet the mayors of Paris, Lyon, and Marseille, who called for greater reinforcement to repair the damage. Youth activists also led solidarity protests in Belgium, Albania, and Italy, where police in Milan clashed with stone-throwing demonstrators for a second day, firing tear gas and water cannons in response. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the looting and said she will convene a meeting in Rome on Monday to “evaluate further measures against those who exploit legitimate demonstrations to sow violence and chaos.”
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