French President Emmanuel Macron condemned widespread rioting and looting during nationwide protests over living costs and school conditions, as authorities reported thousands of arrests and significant property damage.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday addressed the nation following nationwide protests over rising living costs and poor conditions in schools that devolved into riots, arson, and looting. Speaking in a televised address, Macron vowed that those who looted and sought to harm the Republic would be held accountable. The demonstrations drew hundreds of thousands of participants and resulted in widespread property damage, including the near-destruction of a historic city hall.

Nationwide Protests and Clashes

Demonstrators gathered across France in response to calls from a labor union, student organizations, and activists aiming to revive the yellow vest movement that began in 2018. Authorities estimated national turnout at about 550,000 people, while organizers put the figure at roughly 800,000. Marches in cities including Paris, Marseille, Lyon, and Bordeaux saw masked groups set fires, attack public buildings, and loot hundreds of businesses. In Paris, hundreds of protesters re-gathered on Sunday at the Place de la République under a heavy police presence, where officers deployed tear gas as small groups attempted to ignite trash bins and bicycles. Paris police reported that one person died of a heart attack, prompting an investigation by the Paris prosecutor's office. Reports on arrests differed between outlets: NPR reported that at least 1,800 people had been arrested, while The Korea Times put the figure at at least 2,400. The arrest tallies approached the nearly 2,000 recorded during a single day of yellow vest protests in December 2018.

Government Response and Security Measures

Macron held an emergency meeting with senior government officials after masked groups targeted city halls and public buildings. In Limoges, flames engulfed the 19th-century City Hall, causing its roof to collapse and nearly destroying the structure. Macron blamed the unrest on insurrectionist elements from radical far-left groups joined by numerous criminals, accusing them of attacking police and public buildings to foment chaos. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez condemned the disorder on X, emphasizing that deliberate violence is distinct from the fundamental right to protest. Macron announced that he instructed prefects to collaborate with mayors to safeguard public buildings and businesses in the coming weeks, with authorization to ban protests when necessary.