Police 'Lost Control' of some Protests - French Minister
Macron blamed far-left activists and ordered prefects to protect public buildings and businesses after about 2,400 arrests, officials said.
- On Saturday, nationwide protests against living costs drew between 550,000 and 800,000 demonstrators across France, devolving into rioting that resulted in at least 2,400 arrests and significant destruction, including Limoges City Hall where flames caused the roof to collapse.
- Demonstrators hoped to revive the "yellow vest" movement from 2018, answering calls from labor unions and activists protesting social injustice. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez admitted police "lost control" in some cities, as authorities blamed "radical far-left groups" for the unrest.
- Paris official Emmanuel Gregoire wrote, "The scale of the damage is considerable and unprecedented," prompting mayors from Paris, Marseille, and Lyon to request an emergency meeting. Yesterday, hundreds gathered at the Place de la Republique amid heavy police presence.
- French President Emmanuel Macron rejected Interior Minister Laurent Nunez's resignation, acknowledging a "lack of anticipation" in preparations. In a televised address, Macron declared, "Those who looted will have to pay back for the damage."
- Macron instructed prefects to work with mayors protecting public buildings and businesses in the coming weeks, including by banning protests when necessary. Political leaders across the spectrum are leveraging the unrest as potential advantage for next spring's presidential election.
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17 Articles
France’s interior minister admits police lost control during violent protests
France’s interior minister Laurent Nuñez has acknowledged that security forces lost control in some major cities during violent protests over the state of education and the cost of living on Saturday, recognising that police had failed to anticipate the scale of the unrest.
Around 2,400 people were arrested after Saturday's demonstrations in France, which have turned violent.
berlingske.dk
Around 2,400 people were arrested after Saturday's demonstrations in France, which have turned violent.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez admitted on Monday that police had "lost control" in some places during violent protests in the country's cities over the weekend.
In light of the massive and stormy demonstrations of the past few days, the Council of Ministers is being held in France, which is called upon to assess what went wrong and scenes of chaos unfolded in…More...
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