France gripped by protests

Demand for improvements in school facilities has expanded into wider demonstrations over economic hardship and the cost of living

metro india news  I hyderabad

Protests over rising prices of essential commodities, stagnant wages and mounting financial pressures have reportedly intensified across France, with demonstrators taking to the streets in major cities, including Paris, Limoges, Bordeaux, Lille, Rennes and Marseille. What began as a movement demanding improvements in school facilities and teacher recruitment has expanded into wider demonstrations over economic hardship and the cost of living. According to the report, protesters accused the government of failing to address rising household expenses, including food prices and rents. Demonstrations escalated into violence after police attempted to disperse crowds. Incidents of looting, arson and damage to shops, vehicles and public buildings were reported in several locations. Police deployed tear gas and detained thousands of people.

Historic town hall damaged in fire

Limoges witnessed a major incident when a fire reportedly engulfed its 143-year-old town hall, causing the building's roof to collapse. In Lille, demonstrators allegedly broke into stores, including Apple outlets, and took electronic goods and essential supplies. Clashes continued into Sunday, with police deployed across affected areas. The report cited government figures indicating that more than 110,000 people demonstrated in Paris on Saturday evening, while approximately 550,000 participated nationwide. Police officers were also injured during confrontations.

Protests spread beyond France

Demonstrations over economic pressures have also been reported in other European countries, including Albania, Belgium, Spain, Italy, Greece, Ireland, Portugal, the United Kingdom, Germany and Hungary. Rising living costs, unemployment, wage disparities and financial insecurity have emerged as common concerns among protesters.

Macron warns of action against rioters

French President Emmanuel Macron condemned the violence, accusing some individuals of deliberately provoking unrest. He warned that those involved in looting and arson would face legal consequences, while maintaining that peaceful demonstrations remained a legitimate form of protest. He also alleged that some groups were seeking to undermine public order ahead of next year's presidential election.

Trump mocks unrest; Vance blames immigration

US President Donald Trump reportedly mocked the unrest during campaign remarks, sarcastically describing France as a beautiful country without protests or looting and suggesting that people could visit it cheaply. US Vice-President JD Vance, meanwhile, blamed immigration for the unrest, arguing that policies encouraging migration in the name of humanitarianism had contributed to the situation. The reported developments highlight growing tensions over economic hardship and public order in France, although the specific claims and figures in the report could not be independently verified here.