Macron condemns looting but backs legitimate demands in France protests
16 sourcesUpdated Oct 18, 20261 min read
French President Emmanuel Macron condemned violence during nationwide protests over rising living costs and poor school conditions, distinguishing peaceful demonstrators with legitimate grievances from rioters and looters. He said those responsible would be held accountable, promised greater protection for public buildings and businesses and urgent support for affected communities, and called for further discussions on protesters’ concerns. Macron also ordered a review of intelligence gathering and police preparedness and said authorities could ban certain gatherings, but stopped short of declaring a state of emergency or imposing a curfew. Authorities reported roughly 2,300–2,400 arrests, while estimates of Saturday’s turnout ranged from 550,000 to 800,000; fires and attacks damaged public buildings, including Limoges City Hall, and tear gas was used as tensions flared again in Paris on Sunday. Macron blamed radical far-left groups and criminals for much of the violence, while critics said the government had failed to maintain public order.
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Right· 2 sources
Calling for better police planning makes sense after the damage we've seen, but it shouldn't delay fixing the economy.
The living costs are crushing families like mine, so I hope these talks lead to real changes instead of just words.
Macron has the balance right by backing the real concerns over prices while rejecting the thieves who ruin it for everyone else.
