Macron Condemns ‘Uncontrolled’ Violence as Fresh Clashes Erupt in France

French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday condemned the “unbridled” violence that erupted during nationwide protests over the cost of living, as police clashed with demonstrators and looters in Paris and other cities.

Nearly 2,400 people were arrested during Saturday’s unrest, one of France’s worst episodes of urban violence in years, while almost 1,000 police officers and gendarmes were injured, seven of them seriously, according to the Interior Ministry.

Addressing the nation, Macron said local authorities could ban certain demonstrations in the coming days if necessary. However, he stopped short of announcing tougher emergency measures, including a state of emergency or a curfew.

“Tonight, we all feel anger and shame,” Macron said, referring to the destruction caused by the protests, which saw town halls set ablaze and hundreds of businesses looted or damaged.

“Looking at these images, we all asked ourselves: what is going through their minds? How can French people do this to France?” he said, stressing the need to distinguish between demonstrators with “legitimate demands” and those involved in destruction, vandalism and looting.

Macron pledged a firm response against what he described as agitators from ultra-left groups and other offenders who had unleashed widespread violence across French cities.

AFP journalists reported that police fired tear gas and stun grenades on Sunday at hundreds of people gathered in a Paris square following calls on social media for a demonstration that authorities said had not been authorised.

Protesters threw bottles and rocks at police, while authorities reported 108 arrests across the capital. At least five shops were looted around Place de la République, and several other businesses in central Paris suffered smashed windows. City officials advised numerous establishments to close.

In Lyon, southeastern France, police confronted groups of youths who attempted to loot a luxury clothing store.

Macron's Political Rivals Seize on Unrest

The violence erupted months before a presidential election in which Macron, barred from seeking another consecutive term, is unable to run again. Meanwhile, far-right National Rally leader Marine Le Pen has been gaining ground in opinion polls.

Le Pen said the unrest demonstrated that Macron’s administration was “running on fumes, exhausted and disoriented”.

Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of the hard-left France Unbowed party and another presidential contender, warned that the country could be approaching a period of developments that might eventually spiral out of control.

Macron said France deserved a proper presidential election, with political debates taking place between parties rather than through violence in the streets.

Saturday’s demonstrations brought together trade unions, the anti-Macron Yellow Vests movement and school students who had been protesting in recent weeks. Their grievances centred on the rising cost of living and concerns about opportunities for young people.

Images of burning town halls and looted businesses attracted international attention. US President Donald Trump also weighed in, blaming immigration for the unrest in a social media post.

“France is burning!” Trump wrote, claiming that immigration from culturally different backgrounds had damaged the country. His comments added an international political dimension to the crisis.

Government Promises Accountability and Support

Macron said senior officials would coordinate with mayors to protect cities, public buildings and businesses. He also promised assistance to affected businesses and pledged full transparency regarding security forces’ handling of the demonstrations.

Several opposition politicians have called for Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez to be dismissed.

Macron said he had instructed Nuñez to draw all necessary lessons from the unrest, particularly regarding intelligence gathering and the ability to anticipate violence. He added that he expected clear answers from the authorities.

“It’s like we had a war,” said 78-year-old Paris resident Mehmet Ozeden, describing the scene around burnt street barricades left by Saturday’s demonstrations.

In Limoges, a fire destroyed the city’s 19th-century town hall. Local prefect Maurice Barate told the LCI news channel that the blaze had been deliberately started by what he described as a “wild horde”.

In Lyon, a tourist office in the city centre was also set on fire amid clashes and looting.

The unrest also left several people with severe injuries. In the southern city of Saint-Étienne, a 17-year-old boy lost his right hand after a crowd-control grenade exploded. In Mulhouse, a 17-year-old girl lost an eye, according to prosecutors.