The key facts

  • More than 2,000 detained, over 600 police officers, gendarmes and firefighters injured; the 19th-century Limoges city hall badly damaged by fire
  • Macron: looters will pay for the damage, those who 'tried to overthrow the Republic' will be held accountable; the prime minister will meet with parties, unions and students
  • Le Pen accuses the authorities of being too soft, the left of excessive police force; Lecornu blamed LFI

The President's Address After a Day of Unrest

On Sunday, October 18, Emmanuel Macron delivered a televised address to the French people following Saturday's protests on October 17 against the rising cost of living and deteriorating conditions for students, which in a number of cities escalated into clashes, riots, looting and fires. According to the authorities, almost 550,000 people took part in the demonstrations, including 110,000 in Paris. Hundreds of institutions and shops came under attack, and the streets were littered with debris and broken glass. In Limoges, the 19th-century city hall building was 'largely destroyed' by fire. More than 2,000 people were detained, and more than 600 police officers, gendarmes and firefighters were injured.

Macron's Statements

Macron said that 'nothing justifies' what happened and asked: 'How can the French do this to France?' According to him, 'the looters will pay for the damage, and those who tried to overthrow the Republic will be held accountable.' He called the perpetrators of the unrest 'rebellious elements of the radical left, joined by numerous criminals,' urged people to distinguish peaceful protesters with 'legitimate demands' from those who use demonstrations as a pretext for destruction, and demanded that all political forces unambiguously condemn the violence. 'A willingness to listen and engage in dialogue is not weakness and not impunity,' he added. He announced no new security measures, saying only that local authorities would work directly with the police to protect cities, public buildings and shops. On Monday the president is due to travel to Kuwait.

The Reaction of the Government and the Opposition

Interior Minister Sebastien Lecornu, after a meeting of the crisis cell on Saturday evening, promised 'transparency' in the organization of public order maintenance and accused 'a certain conglomerate of radical forces, in which LFI plays an important role,' declaring: 'either you are in the camp of the Republic and the forces of law and order, or on the side of the rioters.' The leader of La France Insoumise, Jean-Luc Melenchon, is accused by critics of fomenting chaos. The leader of the National Rally, Marine Le Pen, who is leading in the polls ahead of the presidential election in April, reproached Macron for laxisme — excessive softness — while progressive and 'green' forces criticized, in their view, the excessive use of force by the police. The Matignon announced that the prime minister will receive the mayors of Paris, Marseille and Lyon; the date of the meeting has not been determined.

Next Steps

Macron announced that the prime minister will meet 'in the coming days' with representatives of political parties, trade unions, high school and university students to develop 'concrete proposals.' The president added that the country deserves 'beautiful elections' based on debate rather than violence — the unrest occurred on the eve of next year's presidential campaign. Macron's address had been expected: the president, the interior minister and the prime minister had been criticized for the organization of the police operation.