Macron vows transparency after violent French protests

Summarised from 3 outlets · 4 reports · Updated 18 Oct, 20:26 · Archive

French President Emmanuel Macron said violence cannot be justified after weekend demonstrations over living costs and school conditions turned destructive.

Hundreds of thousands of protesters took to the streets across France on Saturday, with students joining trade unions and members of the public to demonstrate against the rising cost of living and poor conditions in schools. While the protests were mostly peaceful, significant violence occurred, with masked groups setting fires, attacking public buildings including city halls, and looting shops. In Limoges, flames engulfed the 19th-century City Hall, causing its roof to collapse. Police arrested more than 2,300 people over the weekend, and officers, firefighters and demonstrators all suffered injuries as the situation unraveled.

Addressing the nation on Sunday, Macron said that 'nothing justifies' the violence and expressed the public's 'anger' and 'shame'. He accused 'troublemakers from far-left splinter groups, joined by numerous delinquents' of engaging in 'unbridled violence', stating: 'Those who destroyed must pay; those who looted must reimburse.' Hundreds of protesters gathered again at the Place de la République in Paris on Sunday, where police used tear gas as tensions flared.

Macron vowed 'full transparency' over the response by security forces and said he was awaiting 'clear answers' on why the protests turned violent. The government has faced accusations of mismanaging and underestimating the protests, with calls for Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez to resign from both left and right. Politico reports that Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu also accused the 'ultra-left' of fomenting the violence, alleging that the France Unbowed movement and its presidential candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon had played an 'important role' within a 'far-left network' driving the unrest. Mélenchon attended Saturday's protests and condemned looting and violence.

How it is being reported

• Macron vows ‘full transparency’ in France after protests turn to widespread unrest“Those who destroyed must pay; those who looted must reimburse,” the French president said.Politico Europe · 18 Oct, 20:14
• Macron calls for calm in France and warns rioting must not escalateFrench President Emmanuel Macron made a national television address after rioting caused widespread damage.BBC World · 18 Oct, 20:14
• Macron says 'nothing justifies' violence in protests during address to nationFrench President Emmanuel Macron said that "nothing justifies" violence during an address to the nation on Sunday, a day after demonstrations drew hundreds of thousands of people to the streets to protest the rising cost of living and poor school conditions. Police arrested more than 2,300 people over the weekend after violent groups clashed with officers and looted shops.France 24 · 18 Oct, 19:44
• REPLAY: French President Emmanuel Macron addresses the nation after unrestFrench President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday vowed there would be "full transparency" over the response by security forces to protests that turned violent this weekend, after criticism that police preparations had been inadequate.France 24 · 18 Oct, 19:33

In this story: Emmanuel Macron · France · Laurent Nuñez · Jean-Luc Mélenchon · Sébastien Lecornu · Limoges · Paris

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