A burning town hall in France has become the centre of a political attack from Washington. US Vice President JD Vance blamed immigration for violence during nationwide protests over rising living costs and poor school conditions. French authorities reported 1,200 arrests after clashes, looting and fires across the country on Saturday, while President Emmanuel Macron promised to prosecute those responsible.
Authorities also opened an investigation after a protester lost a hand in Saint-Etienne. The CGT trade union backed calls for higher wages and pensions, lower prices and better protection for public services. Nunez blamed radical far-left groups and people exploiting the protests to loot shops. Nunez did not confirm reports that a police grenade caused the injury. Macron condemned the attacks on public buildings and businesses in a statement on X. “No room for violence in our Republic. Those who have broken, attacked the prefectures as well as businesses, looted even our town halls, will be prosecuted and punished. To the law enforcement forces, guarantors of the right to demonstrate, I express the support of the Nation. We will all stand united against the sowers of chaos, who seek only to bring down our institutions and prevent those who peacefully express their demands from doing so,” the French president wrote. French Interior Minister Lecornu defended the right to protest peacefully and condemned arson, looting and attacks on property.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said around 550,000 people joined 110 marches nationwide, including 110,000 in Paris. Organisers put attendance at 800,000. French Interior Minister Nunez initially reported about 400 arrests. By late Saturday, Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said the total had risen to 1,200, with 150 police officers injured. He said the government would not be intimidated by groups seeking to use violence ahead of France’s presidential election, due in spring 2027.
Police tactics had already come under scrutiny during earlier school demonstrations.
