France Arrests Near 1,800 as President Threatens Action Over Protest Violence
French President Emmanuel Macron has threatened legal and financial consequences for people involved in looting and attacks on public infrastructure as protests over rising living costs and poor school conditions spread across the country, with authorities reporting nearly 1,800 arrests. The president announced additional security measures following incidents in several cities, where groups of demonstrators allegedly set fires, vandalised businesses and attacked public buildings.
Macron’s response followed an emergency meeting with senior government officials to assess the unrest. He directed local authorities to strengthen security around public institutions and commercial premises, while leaving open the possibility of banning demonstrations in areas where violence threatens public safety. One of the worst incidents occurred in Limoges, where a fire severely damaged the historic town hall, causing its roof to collapse.
Despite the violence, the demonstrations have drawn hundreds of thousands of people, with authorities estimating attendance at about 550,000, while organisers put the figure at approximately 800,000. The protests were supported by labour unions, student groups and activists seeking to revive the Yellow Vest movement, which emerged in 2018 in opposition to economic inequality. While many gatherings remained peaceful, clashes with security forces and reported attacks on businesses in cities including Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Bordeaux intensified concerns about public order.
The unrest has renewed debate over how the government can address public grievances while preventing violence and destruction. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez defended peaceful demonstrations as a fundamental right but condemned the deliberate use of violence to cause disorder. Meanwhile, police deployed tear gas during tense scenes in Paris on Sunday, and the Paris prosecutor’s office opened an investigation after police reported that a person died of a heart attack during the unrest.
