Protestsupdated 1h ago2 min read
Emmanuel Macron Says Radical Far-Left Groups Joined Criminals in France Riots, 2,400 Arrested
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About 2,400 people were arrested during nationwide protests and rioting. Protests focused on rising living costs and education, with widespread violence and looting.
Macron vows accountability
French President Emmanuel Macron told the nation that “Those who looted will have to pay for the damage, and those who sought to bring down the Republic will be held accountable,” after nationwide protests against rising living costs and poor conditions in schools turned into rioting and looting. Macron said “unrestrained violence” was driven by “insurrectionist elements from radical far-left groups, joined by numerous criminals,” and he described public anger and shame during the unrest. French authorities reported at least 2,400 people were arrested, and Paris police said 855 people were arrested in the capital region.
Paris police also said one person died of a heart attack, and the Paris prosecutor’s office said it was investigating. In Paris, police used tear gas as tensions flared at Place de la République, where hundreds of protesters gathered again on Sunday amid a heavy police presence.
Witnesses describe tear gas
Eliza Lumani, a 28-year-old honeymooner in Paris, said she had “absolutely no idea” that protests would be taking place and that she initially encountered peaceful demonstrators protesting for “better school and living conditions”. Lumani said she later saw fires and was scared by tear gas, and she described the “loud boom” sounds from canisters thrown by police. Lumani said she was “never really afraid of the protesters themselves,” but she said “What was actually scary was the tear gas, which made it difficult to breathe,” as she watched the escalation.
Marine Le Pen criticized Macron’s government as “exhausted, disoriented and seemingly incapable of doing anything other than commenting on its own powerlessness,” in a video posted on social media. Jean-Luc Mélenchon accused Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu of “playing with fire,” and Mélenchon insisted “my message is clear: those who share our fight have no business in looting or destruction.”
Election stakes and policing
France’s unrest sharpened tensions ahead of the 2027 presidential election, as authorities said almost 2,400 people were arrested across France following riots, looting and arson during cost-of-living protests. The interior ministry put nationwide turnout at 550,000, including 110,000 in Paris, while the CGT trade union gave a higher national estimate of 800,000. DW reported that the Interior Ministry said about 1,000 officers were injured, and Paris police reported 855 arrests described as a record.
“Given the necessity for continued leadership of law enforcement at this time, the president refused.”
The Guardian said Macron criticized “unbridled violence” and said local state officials would be able to ban certain street gatherings if they deemed it necessary. The Elysee palace said the interior minister submitted his resignation to the president on Sunday, and it said the president refused it “Given the necessity for continued leadership of law enforcement at this time.”