France’s Macron vows to hold accountable those who ‘sought to bring down the Republic’
- On Sunday, October 18, 2026, President Emmanuel Macron condemned violent riots in a televised address, vowing accountability for those who destroyed property or looted, stating, "We all feel anger and shame."
- Nationwide demonstrations involving about 550,000 people over rising living costs and deteriorating public services spiraled into riots on Saturday, October 17, as masked groups looted shops and attacked public buildings across France.
- Authorities reported nearly 2,400 arrests and about 1,000 police injuries, while at least 1,500 businesses sustained damage and two people died during the weekend's unrest across multiple French cities.
- Far-Right leader Marine Le Pen and far-left presidential candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon attacked the government, accusing Macron of failing to maintain public order ahead of next year's presidential election.
- Police face scrutiny over alleged excessive force, with at least two dozen investigations opened into allegations including protesters losing hands to stun grenades, as officials prepare emergency meetings on public safety.
281 Articles
281 Articles
French President Emmanuel Macron has condemned the violence, looting and attacks on public buildings following protests across the country on October 17. In a televised address to the nation, he said the perpetrators would be held accountable, but urged against equating peaceful demonstrators with groups that used the protests to cause destruction. “Tonight, we all feel anger and shame,” Macron said. “Nothing justifies, nothing explains and noth…
Amid continuing violent protests in France by citizens angered by high prices and other issues, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that he feels “anger and shame” toward the demonstrators. He also left the door open for a hardline response, such as a ban on rallies. In a televised address on the evening of the 18th (local time), President Macron said, “Oh
Macron denounces violence as France hit by new clashes
French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday slammed the "unbridled" violence that erupted in cost-of-living demonstrations across the country, as police battled protesters and looters in new clashes in Paris. Nearly 2,400 people were arrested on Saturday in unrest that represented some of the worst urban violence in France in years, with almost 1,000 police and gendarmes injured, seven seriously, the interior ministry said. In an address to the n…
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