Nothing justifies it: Macron condemns France riots, stops short of emergency

French President Emmanuel Macron appealed for calm on Sunday after a wave of violent unrest swept across France, leaving a trail of destruction, hundreds of damaged shops and nearly 1,000 police officers injured. Authorities arrested around 2,400 people following demonstrations over rising living costs and deteriorating public services.

Fresh clashes broke out in Paris and Marseille on Sunday, with riot police deploying tear gas and intervening to prevent businesses from being ransacked. The violence followed nationwide demonstrations on Saturday, when protesters looted shops, attacked police vehicles and set fire to public buildings, including a town hall in Limoges.

Addressing the nation in a televised speech, Macron condemned the destruction and expressed anger and shame over the scenes of violence.

"Nothing justifies it, nothing explains it, nothing excuses it," he said, while questioning how French citizens could carry out such acts against their own country.

Macron acknowledged that people protesting peacefully had legitimate grievances but stressed that their demands should not be conflated with the actions of those seeking to cause destruction. He stopped short of declaring a state of emergency but said the government would empower local authorities to ban demonstrations when necessary to protect public buildings and businesses.

The government blamed the violence on ultra-left groups and criminals allegedly involved in instigating the looting. One protester died after suffering a cardiac arrest during Saturday's demonstrations, while nearly 1,000 officers were reported injured, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said.

PROTESTS EXPOSE DEEPER DISCONTENT

The unrest has highlighted mounting frustration with Macron, whose presidency is due to end in 2027 after a decade increasingly marked by social discontent, economic weakness and rising public debt.

More than half a million people took part in marches across dozens of cities on Saturday, bringing together a month-long student movement and broader public anger over the cost of living and declining public services. While most demonstrators remained peaceful, violent groups targeted public buildings, luxury stores and supermarkets.

On Sunday, police again clashed with protesters at Paris' Place de la Republique, firing tear gas as demonstrators set fire to piles of bicycles. A large-scale clean-up operation was launched in cities across the country.

In Limoges, a fire engulfed the town hall, causing its clock tower to collapse. Mayor Guillaume Guerin alleged that the building had been deliberately targeted and said people inside had feared for their lives. He warned he could resign if the city did not receive sufficient funding to repair the damage.

The destruction evoked memories of the 2019 fire that devastated Paris' Notre Dame cathedral.

POLITICAL LEADERS, BUSINESSES REACT

Far-right Rally leader Marine Le Pen, who is expected to be a leading contender in the next presidential election, also called for calm, warning against allowing France to become accustomed to scenes of destruction.

"Violence is not an opinion. Destruction is not a form of expression. And chaos cannot serve as a project for France," Le Pen said in a video address.

Meanwhile, hard-left France Unbowed leader Jean-Luc Melenchon called on Macron to respond to the demands of protesting high-school students.

Economy Minister Roland Lescure pledged government support for business owners affected by the violence, saying those responsible for the destruction would be held accountable and required to pay for the damage.

The economic fallout was already becoming evident. Carrefour CEO Alexandre Bompard told French broadcaster BFMTV that 50 of the retailer's stores had been damaged, including 20 that were looted. The losses were estimated to run into tens of millions of euros.

The latest unrest presents a fresh challenge for Macron's government as it faces growing pressure to address economic hardship and public dissatisfaction while restoring order across the country.

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