Over 1800 people were arrested in France following unrest, looting, and fires during protests over the cost of living. Laurent Nune, the Interior Minister, announced on Sunday that these disturbances on Saturday have fueled tensions ahead of the 2027 presidential elections.
Unrest and Damages
On Saturday, unrest, fires, and looting occurred in several cities. Sébastien Lecornu, the Prime Minister, announced that 150 police officers were injured and attributed the violence to an organized and violent leftist group.
Paris police reported the arrest of 855 people, describing this figure as a record. Prosecutors announced that 517 people remain in custody, including 171 minors. These figures are provisional, and arrests continued into early Sunday.
Destruction and Reactions
The majority of arrests in the capital were related to suspects involved in trafficking stolen goods, participating in groups intending to commit violence, and vandalism. In central France, protesters set fire to the historic town hall building in Limoges, causing significant damage. Guillaume Guérin, the mayor, condemned this destruction, stating: "The country is in chaos."
Officials also reported attacks on public buildings and shops in Marseille, Lyon, Avignon, and Grenoble. Police in several cities used tear gas, batons, and water cannons. There are also reports of protesters being injured, including a 17-year-old who lost his hand in Saint-Étienne due to a police grenade explosion.
Emmanuel Macron, the President, promised that those responsible for this violence would be prosecuted. He wrote on his X account: "There is no place for violence in our Republic" and condemned attacks on government buildings, businesses, and town halls.
Opposition politicians, who are seeking to succeed Macron in the presidential elections in April and May, also reacted to the unrest. Marine Le Pen, the far-right candidate, accused the rival leftist party, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, of "justifying violence" and promised to protect the French from "extreme left violence."
Mélenchon, who had supported previous protests and student demonstrations, urged protesters to avoid looting, describing it as "against our methods." These protests included grievances over fuel prices, low wages, and issues faced by farmers and firefighters.
The Interior Ministry announced the total number of protesters nationwide to be 550,000, including 110,000 in Paris. The CGT labor union estimated a higher figure of 800,000.
The government is concerned that online calls to revive the Yellow Vests movement may turn student protests into wider unrest. The Yellow Vests movement began in 2018 following a fuel tax increase and evolved into broader protests over the cost of living and inequalities.
