‘No room for violence,’ says Macron after rioters and looters hijack peaceful demonstrations across France

Violence Overshadows Mass Anti-Inflation Protests Across France

Poinews.com – Large demonstrations against rising inflation drew hundreds of thousands of people across France on Saturday, but clashes, fires and looting left several city centres damaged and intensified political pressure six months before the country’s elections.

The Interior Ministry said roughly 550,000 people joined the nationwide protests, while the CGT union gave a higher estimate of 800,000 participants. Police made about 400 arrests as confrontations erupted in Paris and several other cities.

President Emmanuel Macron condemned those responsible for the violence in a late-night message on X, drawing a distinction between peaceful protesters and groups accused of exploiting the marches.

“No room for violence in our Republic. Those who have broken, attacked the prefectures as well as businesses, looted even our town halls, will be prosecuted and punished.”

Macron also praised police officers, describing them as protectors of the right to demonstrate, and called for unity against people he said were trying to destabilise public institutions and silence peaceful demands.

“We will all stand united against the sowers of chaos, who seek only to bring down our institutions and prevent those who peacefully express their demands from doing so.”

Clashes and fires in major cities

In Paris, masked demonstrators threw objects and launched fireworks at police, who responded with tear gas and water cannon. Several parked vehicles were set on fire, sending smoke above central parts of the capital.

A group of more than 300 protesters attempted to advance along the Champs-Elysees, an avenue known for its luxury flagship stores. Police used tear gas to prevent the group from moving further up the boulevard. Demonstrators shouted “All cops are bastards,” or ACAB, a slogan heard repeatedly during the protests.

Paris mayor Emmanuel Gregoire said the destruction had affected whole streets in the wider capital area.

Looting was also reported in Paris, Marseille, Nice, Bordeaux and Lille. In Lille, an Apple store was emptied. Commercial premises in several cities were targeted as the protests moved beyond their original anti-inflation focus.

Public buildings targeted

Municipal buildings and other public sites were among the locations hit during the unrest. Protesters entered and damaged town halls in Marseille and Lille, while a police compound in Bordeaux was vandalised before those involved left the scene.

In Limoges, a group attacked the town hall after the demonstration, and flames spread as far as the roof. In Lyon, the city-centre tourist office was set alight.

Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu described the day’s events as violence of exceptional severity. He said demonstrations held peacefully were a legitimate part of the Republic, but rejected arson, attacks and theft.

“Peaceful demonstrations have their rightful place in our Republic. Arson, looting, and attacks have no place whatsoever. Today, ultraleft groups have orchestrated violence in several French cities; delinquents have joined in to pillage and destroy.”

Two serious hand injuries linked to protest policing

The day also brought a serious injury in Saint-Etienne, where a male demonstrator lost his hand after a police crowd-control grenade exploded. The incident followed another hand injury earlier this month: on 5 October, a 15-year-old lost his hand in Lens after a police stun grenade was used during a separate protest.

These incidents add to the scrutiny surrounding how public-order operations are conducted during volatile demonstrations. Saturday’s confrontations involved large crowds, masked groups, fireworks and projectiles, creating a rapidly changing security situation in several urban centres.

Political tension ahead of elections

The demonstrations came after weeks of student mobilisation and at a sensitive moment for French politics. France is preparing for elections in six months to choose Macron’s successor, and the scale of the anti-inflation marches underlines the social frustration facing the country.

For many demonstrators, the immediate issue was the rising cost of living. Yet the outbreaks of violence shifted attention toward security, damage to public property and the ability of authorities to protect both peaceful marchers and businesses located along protest routes.

The sharp difference between participation estimates from the Interior Ministry and the CGT reflected the significance attached to the turnout. Whatever the final count, the demonstrations brought a substantial number of people onto the streets nationwide.

Authorities now face the dual challenge of prosecuting those accused of violence while maintaining space for lawful public protest. Macron’s statement sought to make that division clear: support for citizens expressing their concerns peacefully, alongside a promise of consequences for those accused of looting, arson and attacks on institutions.