In brief
After a day of protests over rising living costs, riots spread across France. President Macron addressed the nation, calling for calm and distinguishing between legitimate protestors and those who vandalised property. Police have arrested around 2,400 people; 1,000 officers were injured. Macron pledged full transparency and called on local authorities to protect shops and buildings.
French President Emmanuel Macron has called for “calm and order” and warned that riots across the country must not be allowed to spiral out of control, addressing the nation on national television from the Élysée Palace.
Speaking after a day of demonstrations over rising fuel costs, the cost of living and failing public services, Macron urged a clear distinction between “legitimate demands” of protesters and ’those who destroyed, smashed and looted’ their properties.
Police say roughly 2,400 people have been arrested during the weekend, and about 1,000 officers were injured, seven of them seriously, after tear gas, water cannons and riot police batons met crowds in cities such as Paris, Marseille and Lille.
Macron promised full transparency over the security response, adding that local prefects and mayors would work across the country to protect shops and buildings from further damage.
