OMM Newsroom
French President Emmanuel Macron said prefects could ban certain demonstrations to protect public order, addressing the nation on Sunday after protests across France escalated into widespread destruction.
Speaking from the Élysée Palace in Paris, Macron called for calm and urged political parties and trade unions to condemn the violence unequivocally, Anadolu Agency reported.
“My fellow citizens, I am addressing you this evening at an extremely serious moment,” he said. Macron described the events of Saturday, Oct. 17, as “uncontrolled violence” unleashed in cities by what he called extremist far-left groups and criminals.
He said shops had been looted and stores, public buildings and municipal buildings attacked. “The country needs order and calm, not an escalation of tensions,” he said.
Macron cites attacks and pledges support for businesses
Macron said footage of the demonstrations had prompted people to ask: “What is going through their minds? How can the French do this to France?” He described seeing city streets devastated as “unbearable” and said people felt anger and shame.
He cited an arson attack on Limoges City Hall, the burning of the tourist office in Lyon, demonstrators entering the municipal building in Marseille and an attack on the prefect’s residence in Bordeaux. “Nothing can justify this. Nothing can explain it. Nothing can excuse it,” he said.
Some shopkeepers had been forced to protect their businesses from criminals, Macron said, adding that they would not be left alone. The government would begin offering solutions to shopkeepers the following day, while Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu would chair an emergency meeting to arrange assistance for business owners as quickly as possible.
Macron said law enforcement officers had faced unprecedented levels of violence in many cities on Saturday but “stood their ground and did the best they could.” He said Lecornu would bring together representatives of political parties, trade unions, and high school and university students in the coming days.
Macron calls for investigations and accountability
The president called for transparency about the government’s public-order strategy. He said he had instructed the government to draw lessons on intelligence gathering and anticipating events, and to ensure the violence did not happen again. He also called for clear answers and investigations into the events surrounding the demonstrations.
Macron said Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin had instructed prosecutors to take a firm approach. “Those who destroy must pay the cost. Those who loot must compensate for the damage. Those who attempt to overthrow the Republic must be held accountable,” he said.
He said a distinction had to be made between people involved in arson and destruction and demonstrators. Macron said he understood protesters’ concerns about the cost of living and high fuel prices, linking those concerns to the war that began with US and Israeli attacks on Iran. He said France had taken measures to secure its oil supplies.
Macron also said he understood high school and university students and that their voices needed to be heard. The government, he said, had a responsibility to listen to public anger, address its underlying causes and protect the Republic. He added that the authorities would make no concessions to people who set fires or engaged in destruction.
France deserved to hold a proper presidential election in six months, as planned, Macron said. He said the government favored dialogue and opposed all forms of violence.
The Yellow Vest movement organized demonstrations across France on Saturday to protest the rising cost of living and high fuel prices. About 2,400 people were taken into custody nationwide, while around 1,000 police officers, gendarmes and firefighters were injured.
A demonstrator who became ill in Paris died during the protests. In the southern city of Saint-Etienne, a 17-year-old boy had his right hand blown off by a crowd-control grenade.
