In a nationally televised address on Sunday evening, President Emmanuel Macron condemned the wave of violence and looting that erupted on the sidelines of Saturday’s protests, vowing that those responsible would face the full weight of the law.
“Yesterday, Saturday, October 17, factions from ultra-left groups, joined by numerous delinquents, engaged in unbridled violence in our cities,” Macron said in a speech broadcast on TF1, just after 8 p.m. “Watching these images, we all asked ourselves: ‘What is going through their heads? How can French people do this to France?'”
President Expresses Anger and Shame
The head of state described the national mood as one of anger and shame. “We all feel anger tonight, and shame,” Macron said. He was careful, however, to distinguish the “several hundred thousand” peaceful demonstrators with “legitimate demands” from “those who destroyed, broke, and looted.”
“Seeing the streets of our cities ransacked like this is unbearable,” he said, expressing his “support” for the shopkeepers and artisans affected by the looting.
Demand for Answers on Security Failures
Macron called on the government—and specifically Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez—to “draw all the lessons” from Saturday’s events regarding “intelligence and anticipation.” His remarks come as the executive faces sharp criticism following the ransacking of numerous businesses and public buildings in several major cities.
“I expect clear answers, and there will be full transparency,” the president promised.
He also announced that prefects, in coordination with mayors, would take decisions to protect cities, public buildings, and businesses. Macron further called for “exemplary” judicial follow-up. “Those who destroyed must pay; those who looted must reimburse… We will be intractable,” he insisted.
Nearly 2,400 Arrests Nationwide
According to the latest figures from the Interior Ministry, the violence surrounding Saturday’s protests led to 2,397 arrests, with 997 police officers and gendarmes injured, including seven seriously.
Macron also urged political parties, professional organizations, and unions to “condemn without ambiguity” the violence, stressing the proximity of the presidential election, now exactly six months away.
Political Reactions and Next Steps
No announcements regarding the protesters’ demands—such as the fight against the high cost of living and the defense of public services—were made by the head of state at this stage. However, he announced that the Prime Minister would soon convene political parties, unions, local authorities, and parliamentarians for a series of meetings.
Bruno Retailleau, the Republicans (LR) candidate for the Élysée, called on the president to declare a “state of emergency” “without delay.” Jean-Luc Mélenchon (LFI) urged Macron not to play “the game of rot” and to respond to the demonstrators’ demands, saying the youth “need this sequence to have a good ending.”
