France witnessed widespread unrest on Saturday as demonstrations over rising living costs, high fuel prices and declining public services escalated into violence in several cities, with rioters targeting public buildings, looting shops and clashing with police.
While hundreds of thousands of people participated in peaceful marches across the country, groups of violent protesters set fire to buildings, damaged businesses and attacked police personnel. The unrest spread across several major cities, including Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Limoges, marking a fresh challenge for the French government amid mounting economic and political pressures.
In Limoges, the city hall was set ablaze, while protesters in Marseille broke into the city hall and defaced its premises with graffiti. In Lyon, the city's tourist office was set on fire. In Paris, several shops were looted, vehicles were torched, and banks were vandalised as clashes intensified in parts of the capital.
French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said the government would not be intimidated by violence and accused far-left groups and criminals of attempting to exploit the demonstrations ahead of next year's presidential election.
In a post on X, Lecornu warned that the government would not allow political agendas to be imposed through violence. He made the remarks while visiting affected areas in the evening.
According to Lecornu, around 1,200 people had been arrested during the protests. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez estimated that approximately 550,000 people had taken part in demonstrations nationwide, while the CGT trade union put the turnout at around 800,000.
President Emmanuel Macron also condemned the attacks, calling for unity against those responsible for the violence. He said the authorities would pursue legal action against individuals involved in the destruction and attempts to undermine public institutions.
The demonstrations have grown out of mounting frustration over the cost of living, fuel prices, inequality and deteriorating public services. What began last month as protests at high schools in working-class northern suburbs of Paris over teacher shortages and poor facilities has since expanded into a broader movement challenging government spending priorities and declining living standards.
Many demonstrators said the majority of participants had protested peacefully, blaming a smaller group of troublemakers for the violence. Protesters carried placards criticising the government, Macron and wealthy sections of society.
Lola, a 19-year-old protester in Paris, said the demonstrations reflected public anger over expensive fuel and inadequate educational facilities. She also highlighted concerns over alleged violence against school students protesting for better learning conditions.
In the French capital, protesters wearing high-visibility yellow vests blocked roads, evoking memories of the Yellow Vest movement that challenged Macron's economic policies during his earlier years in office. The latest demonstrations drew larger crowds than those recorded at the height of that movement, although participation remained below the levels seen during the 2023 protests against pension reforms.
France was not the only European country to witness demonstrations over economic pressures on Saturday. Protests also took place in Belgium, Portugal and Italy, while Albania saw another round of demonstrations against alleged government corruption, unemployment and shortcomings in education.
In Brussels, several hundred mostly young demonstrators gathered to oppose rising education costs and proposed reforms they fear could make higher education less accessible. Some protesters clashed with police.
Portugal witnessed large demonstrations in Lisbon over housing affordability and the rising cost of living. Housing prices in the country have doubled since 2017, adding to concerns over access to affordable accommodation.
In Italy, a demonstration in Milan turned disorderly, prompting police to use tear gas to clear the area around the city's central cathedral. In Bologna, authorities deployed water cannons to disperse crowds and arrested seven people following another protest that turned violent, according to the ANSA news agency.
Meanwhile, in Albania, police reportedly fired what appeared to be rubber bullets as students staged their fifth consecutive day of mass demonstrations demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama.
The violence in France has also renewed debate over police tactics, particularly following reports of serious injuries among demonstrators. A teenager reportedly lost a hand after picking up a stun grenade, while the police watchdog is investigating at least two dozen allegations of police violence.
Interior Minister Nunez confirmed that a person had suffered a severe hand injury during Saturday's clashes. French media reported that the individual had attempted to pick up a stun grenade.
Lecornu said more than 150 police officers were injured during the demonstrations, although he did not provide figures for injured protesters.
The UNSA police union shared footage on X showing crowds attacking police vehicles with clubs and bricks at several locations. The union warned that officers were facing increasingly dangerous conditions and called for greater accountability amid the continuing unrest.
The demonstrations come at a politically sensitive time for Macron, who is approaching the final stretch of his presidency amid a fragmented political landscape and concerns over the country's economic outlook.
France's efforts to rein in public debt have failed to reassure investors, with government borrowing costs reaching their highest levels in more than two decades, adding to the pressure on the administration.
As protests over living standards continue to challenge authorities across Europe, the developments in France highlight the growing difficulty governments face in addressing public anger over economic insecurity while maintaining public order and confidence in state institutions.