France Protests Turn Into Worst Riots in Years Over Living Costs

Rioting broke out in cities across France on Saturday as demonstrations against rising living costs and weakening public services spiralled into some of the worst violence the country has seen in decades. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said about 550,000 people took part, while the CGT union put the figure at 800,000. Most marched peacefully, but violent groups targeted public buildings, looted luxury shops and supermarkets, and attacked police.

City hall was set on fire in Limoges, protesters broke into city hall in Marseille, and Lyon’s tourist office was torched. In Paris, rioters tried to enter Galeries Lafayette, smashed banks and ransacked stores, and police used tear gas.

Why the Protests Started

The movement began last month at high schools in Paris’ working-class northern suburbs, where anger over teacher shortages and poor facilities grew into wider complaints about inequality, public spending and living standards. Protesters in high-visibility vests recalled the Yellow Vest movement. Saturday’s crowds were larger than the peak of that movement but well below the 2023 pension protests. Macron faces a fragmented political scene, and borrowing costs are at their highest in over two decades.

Police Tactics and Protests Across Europe

Police conduct is under scrutiny after a teenager lost a hand picking up a stun grenade, and the watchdog is investigating at least two dozen violence complaints. Nunez confirmed another person lost a hand on Saturday. A police union warned forces are at breaking point. Smaller protests also hit Belgium, Portugal, Italy and Albania, where students demanded Prime Minister Edi Rama step down.