France Protests Turn Violent Over Rising Living Costs; Over 1,200 Arrested
Protests against rising living costs and declining public services turned violent in several parts of France on Saturday, with demonstrators setting buildings on fire, looting shops and clashing with police. More than 1,000 people were arrested during the unrest, as anger over rising petrol, energy and food prices continued to grow.
One of the worst incidents occurred in the French city of Limoges, where a 143-year-old historic town hall was largely destroyed by a fire allegedly started by masked protesters. The incident has been described as a major loss to the city’s cultural heritage.
Smaller protests over rising living costs were also reported in Belgium, Portugal and Italy. In Albania, demonstrators took to the streets over alleged government corruption, unemployment and poor educational standards.
The historic town hall in Limoges suffered extensive damage after masked protesters allegedly set it on fire. Regional prefect Maurice Barate described the incident as a catastrophe for the city’s heritage and condemned it as a deliberate act of vandalism.
According to Barate, the roof collapsed onto the lower floors, while around two-thirds of the building’s exterior was destroyed, with the western wing remaining largely intact.
Witnesses said a group of masked demonstrators first set fire to a police vehicle outside the town hall before smashing windows and entering the building to start the blaze. Firefighters were deployed late on Saturday to bring the fire under control.
As hundreds of people watched the historic building burn, a municipal employee was seen crying while a local councillor attempted to console them.
Although hundreds of thousands of people participated in peaceful marches across dozens of French cities, some groups resorted to violence, targeting public buildings, police vehicles and commercial establishments.
In Marseille, demonstrators dressed in black reportedly entered the town hall and defaced its walls with graffiti. In Lyon, protesters set fire to the city’s tourist information office.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez estimated that around 550,000 people had participated in demonstrations across the country. The CGT labour union put the figure at approximately 800,000, according to Reuters.
Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said around 1,200 people had been arrested in connection with the protests.
Many demonstrators insisted that most participants had marched peacefully and blamed troublemakers for the violence. Protesters carried placards criticising the police, President Emmanuel Macron and wealthy sections of society.
In parts of Paris, police fired tear gas as they confronted groups of predominantly young demonstrators. Many protesters wore black clothing, hoodies, masks and protective goggles to shield themselves from the gas.
Looting and vandalism were reported in Paris, Marseille, Nice, Nantes, Bordeaux, Limoges, Lille, Toulouse and Strasbourg.
The targeted establishments included supermarkets, pharmacies, luxury boutiques, clothing stores, opticians, cosmetic shops and electronics retailers.
According to AFP, groups of around six young men allegedly targeted shops in an organised manner. Wearing masks and gloves, they reportedly disconnected security cameras before smashing windows to enter the premises and steal goods.
Several town halls and public buildings also came under attack, adding to the damage caused by fires and vandalism during the demonstrations.
President Emmanuel Macron’s government is facing mounting pressure to address the cost-of-living crisis while bringing France’s public debt under control.
Opposition groups have been reluctant to compromise over budget plans, following political tensions that led to the departure of two prime ministers over the past two years.
The latest demonstrations followed social media calls to revive the Yellow Vest movement, which began in 2018 amid concerns over social inequality and the rising cost of living.
Protesters have expressed growing frustration as petrol, energy and food prices have risen sharply in recent months, placing additional financial pressure on households.
Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said the government would not be intimidated by violence, blaming the unrest on far-left groups and criminals.
With a presidential election scheduled for next year, Lecornu warned against attempts to use violence to advance political agendas.
President Emmanuel Macron also pledged to prosecute those responsible for the attacks. He called for national unity against groups seeking to undermine public institutions and prevent peaceful demonstrators from expressing their demands.
Meanwhile, student groups that have been organising school blockades since mid-September urged their supporters to join the protests.
The CGT, one of France’s largest labour unions, also backed the demonstrations, demanding higher wages and pensions, lower prices and the protection of essential public services.
The union said more than 500,000 people had participated in Saturday’s rallies.
The unrest highlights the growing challenge facing the French government as economic pressures, dissatisfaction with public services and political tensions continue to fuel public anger.
