French President Emmanuel Macron has vowed to hold people responsible for looting and attacks on public buildings accountable as nationwide protests over the cost of living and poor school conditions have led to at least 1,800 arrests.
In a televised address on Sunday, Macron said those involved in looting would be required to pay for the damage, while people who attempted to undermine the French Republic would face consequences.
“Those who looted will have to pay back for the damage, and those who sought to bring down the Republic will be held accountable,” he said.
Macron acknowledged the public’s anger and shame over the unrest but blamed the violence on what he described as “insurrectionist elements from radical far-left groups, joined by numerous criminals.”
His remarks followed an emergency meeting with senior government officials on Saturday, after masked groups set fires and attacked public buildings, including town halls, in several French cities.
The president said he had directed local prefects to work with mayors to strengthen protection for public buildings and businesses in the coming weeks. He added that demonstrations could be banned where necessary to prevent further violence.
One of the most serious incidents occurred in Limoges, central France, where a fire severely damaged the 19th-century town hall. The blaze caused the roof to collapse, leaving much of the historic building close to destruction.
Protests continued in Paris on Sunday, with hundreds of people gathering at Place de la République under heavy police deployment. Officers fired tear gas as tensions rose, while small groups reportedly attempted to set bicycles and rubbish bins on fire.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez condemned the violence while defending the right to peaceful protest.
“The right to protest is a fundamental right. Deliberately and collectively sowing disorder through violence is not,” Nuñez wrote on X.
He also cited the looting of hundreds of businesses in cities including Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Bordeaux.
Authorities estimated that about 550,000 people participated in demonstrations across France, while organisers put attendance at approximately 800,000.
The protests followed calls by a labour union, student organisations and activists seeking to revive the “yellow vest” movement, which emerged in 2018 to challenge social and economic inequalities.
Although many demonstrations remained peaceful, smaller groups have been involved in violent confrontations with police and attacks on property. The latest arrest figure approaches the nearly 2,000 people arrested nationwide in a single day of yellow vest protests in December 2018.
Paris police also reported that one person died of a heart attack during the unrest. The force did not release further details, while the Paris prosecutor’s office confirmed that an investigation was underway.