PARIS: Nationwide demonstrations against soaring inflation degenerated into street violence of “extreme intensity” across France on Saturday, marked by fierce clashes between police and protesters, widespread looting, and multiple arson attacks. In a major loss of cultural heritage, the 140-year-old Limoges Town Hall—which had survived both World Wars—was heavily damaged after being set on fire by rioters.
The widespread unrest follows weeks of intensifying student protests, deepening political uncertainty as the country prepares for presidential elections in six months to choose a successor to President Emmanuel Macron.
Whole streets in Paris “have been devastated,” stated Paris Mayor Emmanuel Gregoire, as groups of masked young men torched parked vehicles and ransacked numerous commercial establishments.
French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, who condemned the “extreme intensity of violence,” confirmed late Saturday that around 1,200 individuals had been arrested nationwide, while at least 150 police officers sustained injuries during the clashes.
The violence erupted on the sidelines of major marches held in the capital and other cities over the rising cost of living. While the Interior Ministry estimated the turnout at 550,000, the CGT trade union claimed that over 800,000 people participated in the demonstrations.
Police deployed tear gas and water cannons against protesters who hurled projectiles and fired fireworks. In the southern city of Saint-Etienne, a 17-year-old youth lost his right hand after a crowd-control grenade exploded near him.
Widespread Looting Across Major Cities
During and following the demonstrations, gangs of youths roamed city streets, engaging in sporadic clashes with law enforcement, setting blazes, and breaking through the shutters of retail stores to loot inventory.
Scores of commercial establishments—including supermarkets, pharmacies, luxury boutiques, clothing outlets, opticians, cosmetic shops, and consumer electronics retailers—were systematically looted across Paris, Marseille, Nice, Nantes, Bordeaux, Limoges, Lille, Toulouse, and Strasbourg.
Reporters in Paris observed organized groups of masked youths cutting security camera feeds before smashing storefront windows to gain entry.
In addition to commercial looting, several administrative structures were targeted. The historic Limoges Town Hall was largely destroyed by a blaze set by masked individuals who broke into the building. Town halls in Marseille and Lille were also vandalized, a police compound in Bordeaux was damaged, and a tourist office in Lyon was set ablaze.
President Emmanuel Macron posted on X promising swift legal action: “Those who carried out vandalism, attacked administrative offices or businesses, or carried out looting — even in our town halls, will be prosecuted and punished.”
Opposition leaders eyeing the presidency in the upcoming April-May elections capitalized on the chaos. Far-right candidate Marine Le Pen condemned the rioters, claiming that her far-left rival Jean-Luc Melenchon had “legitimised the violence.” Melenchon, who supported the demonstrations, urged protesters to avoid looting, calling it “contrary to our methods.”
Echoes of Historic Unrest
The demonstrations were called by France’s Yellow Vest movement under the banner of “yellow and youth” protests. While the primary grievance remains the soaring cost of living driven by global inflation and regional conflict, broader anti-government sentiments were evident, with marchers chanting slogans demanding Macron’s resignation and invoking parallels to the 1789 French Revolution.
For more details: Navamalayalam.com