French protests on Saturday quickly escalated into more intense clashes, with vandalism, arson and confrontations with police reported in several cities. Authorities said nearly 2,400 people were arrested and about 1,000 police officers and gendarmes were injured. The unrest came as the government was set to enter a critical phase of voting on the 2027 budget, adding pressure to already tight fiscal plans and strained public sentiment.
The Lecornu government is seeking to cut about 54 billion euros in spending in the budget to narrow the deficit. French public debt had previously risen to about 3.6 trillion euros, equivalent to roughly 119% of GDP, and a higher interest-rate environment is raising debt-servicing costs, further limiting fiscal room. The National Assembly is scheduled to vote on the first part of the budget bill on Tuesday, putting the street situation at an even more sensitive juncture.
The demonstrations were initially driven by a student movement focused on issues such as teacher shortages and deteriorating school conditions, before attracting broader participation from unions and the public. Authorities estimated that about 550,000 people marched in dozens of cities, with around 110,000 taking part in Paris. Although most demonstrations remained peaceful, some radical participants targeted shops, public buildings and law enforcement, causing commercial losses and damage to public property. Paris police said one demonstrator died of cardiac arrest during the protests but provided no further details. A historic town hall in Limoges was set on fire, Marseille city hall was broken into, a tourism office in Lyon caught fire, and the mayor of Bordeaux said up to 100 shops in the city were damaged or looted.
President Emmanuel Macron criticized the violence in a televised address on Sunday, saying there was no justification for vandalism or looting and that he would take an uncompromising stance against instigators and criminals. He did not declare a state of emergency or a curfew, but he authorized local officials to restrict some gatherings if necessary to protect public buildings and businesses. The interior ministry said law enforcement agencies were handling multiple incidents involving clashes and arson, and that hundreds of shops had suffered serious losses.
Political reactions were equally sharp. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen described the situation as a reflection of the Macron government's predicament, while far-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon demanded that the government respond to students' demands and warned that the situation could spiral further out of control. Economy Minister Lecourt said the government would support affected businesses while holding those responsible for damage accountable for repair costs and legal liability.
