Nationwide rallies turn violent

Hundreds of thousands protested peacefully across France over education and cost of living, but violent groups targeted public buildings, looted shops and attacked police.

Buildings set alight in three cities

In Limoges, City Hall was set on fire. In Lyon, protesters torched the tourism office. In Marseille, black-clad protesters broke into City Hall and spray painted anarchist symbols.

Paris sees tear gas and water cannons

Police in Paris fired water cannons and tear gas after hundreds of protesters confronted them. Rioters smashed banks, looted boutiques including Lacoste and ransacked an SFR mobile phone shop.

Macron vows to prosecute attackers

President Emmanuel Macron said the government would stand united against those seeking to undermine institutions and prevent peaceful protest. He vowed to prosecute and punish those who performed attacks.

“We will all stand united against the sowers of chaos, who only seek to undermine our institutions and prevent those who peacefully express their demands from doing so.”

Government blames far-left and criminals

Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said the government would not be intimidated by violence and blamed the unrest on the far-left and criminals. About one thousand two hundred people were arrested.

Turnout figures disputed between sides

The CGT trade union centre told Agence France-Presse that eight hundred thousand people participated in Saturday's protests. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said about five hundred fifty thousand people had participated.

Protesters cite wages not keeping pace

Franck, a civil servant in his forties protesting in Gueret with about three hundred people, said prices are rising but wages are not. He said people cannot take it anymore and are suffocating.

“At the end of the month, I have nothing left. Prices are going up but wages aren't.”

Police watchdog investigates violence claims

Critics say police response has been disproportionate, with a police watchdog investigating at least two dozen allegations of police violence. Lecornu said more than one hundred fifty police officers were injured.

Economic pressures fuel the unrest

About forty five percent of French people worry about cost of living and inflation. Purchasing power has dwindled since two thousand twenty four, while fuel prices soared since the US-Iran war started earlier this year.

Election looms as far-left and far-right gain

The protests come ahead of France's presidential election in April next year. Far-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon has backed student protests, while Marine Le Pen's National Rally leads opinion polls and backs police.