Anger shame Macron denounces France protest violence
French President Emmanuel Macron vowed action after riots and looting in France, saying those responsible would “pay for their crimes”. The Interior Ministry…
PARIS — The scale of violence during protests in France prompted President Emmanuel Macron to promise action and urgent aid, as the unrest raises pressure on the government ahead of presidential elections next year. In a televised address on Sunday, Macron said rioters and looters would “pay for their crimes”.
France’s Interior Ministry said nearly 2,400 people were arrested on Saturday, while about 1,000 police and gendarmes were injured. The figures underline the immediate toll on law enforcement as protests escalated into clashes, fires and looting.
Macron described his response as a distinction between people with legitimate demands and those who destroyed property. He also pledged to establish a crisis unit for people facing difficult circumstances.
“We need unity, we need calm and respect,” Macron said.
Macron denounces violence as political pressure grows
In his address, Macron said officers and officials had faced unprecedented violence in several cities despite their professionalism. He said he had asked the government to draw lessons from the unrest and prepare to prevent a repeat.
“I’ve asked the government to provide all the lessons learned and to be able to anticipate it to make sure that this does not happen again,” he said.
The president also said the crisis unit would provide “urgent aid … for those who are going through difficult moments”. His remarks came after Saturday’s violence, which Al Jazeera described as among the worst urban unrest in France in years.
The consequences are immediate for residents and public services in affected cities: the reported injuries and damage accompany mass arrests, while Macron’s promise of aid signals a government response beyond law enforcement. The source did not specify the scale or form of the assistance.
Al Jazeera reporter Natacha Butler, reporting from Paris, said Macron’s speech offered “perhaps no surprises”. She questioned whether it would ease public anger, saying protesters were tired of hearing similar speeches from the president.
That frustration is now playing out in a political contest. The protests are becoming an issue for parties seeking public support ahead of next year’s presidential elections.
Left-wing presidential candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon blamed the government for the destruction and said it had failed to organise public order. Far-right presidential hopeful Jordan Bardella called Macron’s speech “lamentable” and “cowardly”, arguing that the government could not protect the French people.
Macron said “lessons will be learned” after the violence erupted this weekend. The Interior Ministry’s reported toll stands at nearly 2,400 arrests and about 1,000 police and gendarmes injured.
Source: aljazeera.com
