The key facts

  • Macron announced that prefects may ban demonstrations to protect cities
  • About 2,400 detainees, about 1,000 injured security personnel; a death in Paris and a teenager who lost a hand in Saint-Etienne
  • Prime Minister Lecornu will hold an emergency meeting on aid to shop owners and meetings with parties, unions and students

Address after the riots

French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday delivered an address to the nation from the Elysee Palace following Saturday, October 17, mass protests of the 'yellow vest' movement, supported by student and trade union organizations and which, according to him, escalated into large-scale destruction in cities. He called the moment 'extremely serious' and stated that 'extremist far-left groups together with numerous criminals' unleashed uncontrolled violence. Macron announced that prefects may take measures, including banning individual demonstrations, to protect their cities, and called on parties and unions to unambiguously condemn the violence.

Destruction and casualties

Macron listed episodes that, in his words, he cannot comprehend: the arson of the city hall in Limoges, the burning of the tourist office in Lyon, demonstrators breaking into the Marseille city hall building, and an attack on the prefect's residence in Bordeaux. He said that 'nothing can justify this' and that seeing ravaged streets is 'unbearable.' According to Anadolu, about 2,400 people were detained across the country, and about 1,000 police officers, gendarmes and firefighters were injured. In Paris, a demonstrator who fell ill during the protests died, and in Saint-Etienne a 17-year-old young man lost his right hand due to a crowd-dispersal grenade.

Government measures

Macron said that Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu will hold an emergency meeting on Monday to provide assistance as quickly as possible to shop owners, many of whom, according to the president, were looted or defended their establishments themselves. In the coming days, Lecornu will also gather representatives of political parties, trade unions, schoolchildren and students. Macron instructed the government to draw conclusions on intelligence gathering and forecasting so that 'this never happens again,' and demanded transparency in the public order strategy. Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin instructed prosecutors to take a tough stance: 'Those who destroy must pay the price. Those who loot must compensate for the damage.'

Distinction between protesters and rioters

Macron emphasized the need to distinguish arsonists and destroyers from the demonstrators themselves and said he understands their concern about the cost of living and high fuel prices. He linked the roots of these problems to the war that began with the US and Israeli attacks on Iran, noting that France has taken measures to ensure oil supplies. 'I understand our schoolchildren and students,' he said, adding that their voices must be heard, but the authorities will make no concessions to those who set fires and destroy. Macron also stated that France deserves normal presidential elections in six months, as planned.