Fresh clashes broke out in Paris on Sunday, a day after France suffered one of its worst days of unrest in years. Protests over high prices left one demonstrator dead, thousands arrested, and shops across the country looted or damaged.
Nationwide demonstrations erupted into riots on Saturday, with a town hall torched, shops ransacked, and buildings covered in graffiti as violent groups clashed with police in cities across the country. One protester died after suffering a cardiac arrest during demonstrations in Paris.
The interior minister stated that police made more than 2,000 arrests across France, while more than 600 officers were injured. "It's like a war zone here," said Dutch entrepreneur Tije De Boer, who had come to Paris with his children and was forced to evacuate his hotel at Place de la Republique, a trouble hotspot on Saturday.
Police again fired tear gas towards protesters at Place de la Republique on Sunday afternoon, a sign that tensions had not fully subsided. More than half a million people joined marches on Saturday, marking the convergence of a month-long student movement with broader social discontent against rising living costs.
President Emmanuel Macron will address the nation at 8 p.m. local time on Sunday. Saturday's unrest laid bare the deep anger at Macron, who leaves office in 2027 after a decade in power defined by social discontent and a weak economy.
The government has blamed the violence on hard-left groups and criminals. French far-right leader Jordan Bardella said France had been "humiliated" and called on Macron to step down.
Meanwhile, a massive clean-up operation began in cities from Lille to Marseille and Strasbourg to Bordeaux. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said several hundred shops had been damaged.
In Limoges, Mayor Guillaume Guerin denounced the arson attack that destroyed the city's 143-year-old town hall. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu and Economy Minister Roland Lescure have pledged to hold those responsible for the destruction accountable.
As the nation braces for further developments, the economic impact of the riots is expected to be severe. Insurance companies are already assessing claims from business owners whose properties were targeted during the weekend's chaos.
Security remains on high alert across major urban centers. The government has deployed additional paramilitary forces to prevent further escalation as the public awaits the President's address.
The international community is closely monitoring the situation, with several neighboring countries issuing travel advisories for their citizens currently visiting France.