French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has said the government will not retreat in the face of large-scale protests that turned violent in several cities.
Protests that began over the rising cost of living and cuts to public services escalated on 17 October. Demonstrators blocked roads, set fires and clashed with police. Authorities reported more than 1,200 arrests. Government figures put the number of participants at around 550,000, while union estimates reached 800,000.
In Limoges, the municipal building was set on fire. Protesters entered the city hall and wrote graffiti on its walls. Similar damage occurred at the tourist office in Lyon. Shops, including luxury stores, were looted in several locations.
Lecornu blamed far-left hardliners and criminals for the violence. In a social media post he said the unrest was being used as a “warm-up” before next year’s presidential election and that the government would not be intimidated. He added that no political agenda would be imposed through disorder.
President Emmanuel Macron has pledged that those responsible for attacks on public institutions and peaceful protesters would be identified and face legal action. He called for unity against those seeking to weaken the country’s institutions.
Similar protests have taken place in Belgium, Portugal, Italy and Albania over cost-of-living pressures, education reforms and corruption. French police reported that more than 150 officers were injured. Independent monitors are examining at least 24 complaints of excessive force by security forces.