The images, from Paris, Marseille, and Lyon, have been seen around the world. Amid protests across France against the soaring cost of living and in support of education—following weeks of mobilizations by high school and college students—rioters have overshadowed demands that are reminiscent of those of the Yellow Vests. On one hand, the official protest: a largely peaceful gathering, with signs bearing humorous messages and cultural references. On the other, violence, looting, and burned-out buildings—such as the Limoges city hall, which was devastated by flames.
Limoges city hall on October 18, 2026
-/Getty ImagesEmmanuel Macron spoke on Sunday evening in a televised address, even though the entire political establishment—including the declared candidates for his succession—had already commented extensively on the events.
“Watching these images, we all asked ourselves: What are they thinking? How can French people do this to France? Why burn down the Limoges city hall, the tourist office in Lyon, storm the Marseille city hall, or attack the prefect’s residence in Bordeaux? How could they have gone this far? Nothing justifies it, nothing explains it. Nothing excuses it,” the President of the Republic began.
Paris, France, on October 18, 2026.
NurPhoto/Getty ImagesHe announced that Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu would chair a crisis task force starting Monday, in particular to address the concerns of business owners whose establishments were vandalized.
“Those who destroyed property must pay, those who looted must reimburse, and those who sought to bring down the Republic will be held accountable,” he continued, calling for “exemplary” legal action. “We will be unyielding toward rioters and all those who engage in violence. Listening and dialogue do not mean weakness or impunity.”
Limoges city hall, on October 17, 2026.
PASCAL LACHENAUD/Getty ImagesAccording to Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, more than 2,000 people were arrested across France, and more than 600 police officers and firefighters were injured. One protester died in Paris after falling ill, according to Le Parisien.
“Our responsibility is therefore twofold: to listen to the anger and address its causes, and to firmly uphold republican order. We must neither confuse legitimate demands with violence, nor must we allow violence to prevent these demands from being heard,” he continued, calling on “all political parties, professional organizations, and labor unions to unequivocally condemn all acts of violence and call for calm.”
Paris, France, on October 18, 2026.
Anadolu/Getty Images“All those who are telling you today that the urgent need is to take to the streets, to protest, to create disorder, have only one goal: to undermine the Republic and hijack the debate,” Macron continued. “The choices about the future that you—and we—will have to make in six months are essential. And France is a great democratic force. It deserves these debates. They must take place in public forums. They must involve the political parties, not take place in the streets through violence.”
The Presidential Election on Everyone’s Mind
“Our country deserves a fair presidential election in six months. It is also being decided right now, through a spirit of responsibility,” Emmanuel Macron insisted, as all political parties speak out against the government in the wake of the attacks.
Paris, France, on October 18, 2026.
Anadolu/Getty ImagesOn the left, Paris’s Socialist mayor, Emmanuel Grégoire, said he was awaiting “explanations” from Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, as sporadic looting continued Sunday evening in the capital. “There’s no need to stage all this—the Greens are very clear: we condemn all violence,” Marine Tondelier wrote on X following the president’s address, while Manuel Bompard, the coordinator of La France insoumise, stated on LCI that Emmanuel Macron had “spoken without saying anything.” “It’s absolutely irresponsible to take the podium tonight just to say nothing,” Bompard added.
Edouard Philippe, former Prime Minister and presidential candidate, was not convinced by the speech. “Like millions of French people, I would have preferred decisions and initiatives to restore order and reestablish state authority, to punish looters and rioters, and to outline a detailed plan for resuming dialogue with high school students and labor unions. Our country needs strong leadership,” he posted to X.
His successor and opponent, Gabriel Attal, urged people to “learn all the lessons from these events.”
“The scenes of violence are unbearable. The scenes of looting of our stores and town halls are disgraceful. The scenes of chaos are a provocation against state authority. Nothing can justify these actions,” he wrote.
Paris, France, on October 18, 2026.
Anadolu/Getty ImagesJordan Bardella, president of the National Rally, described the president’s statement as “lamentable.”
“This cowardly and disoriented administration has nothing left to say to the French people, nothing left to offer them. It no longer even has the strength to protect them,” he posted on X.
Bruno Retailleau (Les Républicains), concurred on the same platform. “The President of the Republic appears completely overwhelmed," he wrote, adding that Macron appears “incapable of using the force of the state to counter the mayhem threatening the Republic.”
As in Paris and much of France, there were clashes in the streets of Italy, as protesters broke away from a planned march against income inequality and in support of education.
Originally published by Vanity Fair France
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