Protests in France Turn Violent, Spread Across Europe

Protests in France turned violent over the weekend. There were clashes between protesters and police, along with widespread looting, fires, and attacks on public buildings in cities like Paris, Marseille, Lyon, and Limoges.

The protests started as a response to bad conditions in high school classrooms. They attracted hundreds of thousands of people across the country.

The demonstrations also showed anger over the rising cost of living, low wages, and frustration with the government.

From Saturday to Sunday, police used tear gas on crowds. They battled with rioters who set fires and broke into shops and government buildings. Images showed historic buildings burning.

Nearly 2,400 people were arrested in France. About 1,000 police officers were injured in the violence, according to French officials.

The Interior Ministry reported that 2,397 arrests occurred on Saturday. It also said 997 security personnel were hurt, with seven officers seriously wounded.

“Tonight, we all feel anger and shame,” said France’s President Emmanuel Macron in a speech to the nation. He noted the need to distinguish between protesters with “legitimate demands” and “those who destroyed, smashed, and looted.”

“Those who have destroyed must pay,” he added. Macron promised that authorities would be “uncompromising in the face of violence.”

He stated that “listening to the anger” does not mean those who vandalized and looted will go unpunished.

The unrest has spread to other parts of Europe, like Belgium, Spain, Portugal, and Italy.

Italy experienced new protests on Saturday and Sunday, with clashes in Milan, Bologna, Brescia, Bergamo, and Turin.

The protests focused on rising living costs, poor public services, and pressure on household finances.

In Spain, people protested against high housing prices. The protests started after an investment fund raised the rent of an 87-year-old woman by 230 percent, according to the Guardian.

Portugal saw similar protests on Saturday, with hundreds gathering in central Lisbon. The march began peacefully but ended with masked rioters throwing stones, paving blocks, and other items at police while setting fire to barricades made from bar tables.