PARIS, October 18. /TASS/. French President Emmanuel Macron has described the unrest that swept the country on October 17 as an extremely serious situation.
"I am addressing you at an extremely serious moment," he said in a televised address from the Elysee Palace. On October 17, France experienced "unbridled violence by groups of left-wing radicals," he stressed.
He called on the government to learn a lesson from what has happened and do everything possible to prevent any recurrence of this. "Under the current circumstances, prefects, in collaboration with mayors, will make decisions to protect cities, public buildings, and commercial outlets, including banning certain mass gatherings when necessary and taking any other necessary measures," Macron said.
He also urgent all political parties and trade union organizations "to unequivocally condemn any violence and call for calm." According to the French president, Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu will soon hold a meeting with their representatives "to secure a clear and publicly stated position from them."
Debates ahead of the presidential election, due in the spring of 2027, "should be held with the participation of political parties rather than though street violence," he stressed.
A series of mass protests against rising fuel prices and the declining purchasing power of the population took place all over France on October 17. According to the organizers, some 800,000 people took part in the protests. Meanwhile, the interior ministry put the number of protesters at 550,000. In a number of cities, the protests have escalated into riots and clashes with police. According to Interior Minister Laurent Nunez, more than 2,000 protesters have been detained across the country. He pledged that the authorities will continue persecuting plunders and looters.