Urdu Report Desk
Anti-government protests across France turned violent on Saturday night, with public buildings set ablaze, businesses vandalised and clashes erupting between police and young demonstrators. Authorities reported that 1,200 people had been detained nationwide as tensions escalated in several major cities.
According to Reuters, the violence damaged historic and public buildings in several locations. In the central city of Limoges, a historic city hall was set on fire, with footage showing its roof collapsing. In Marseille, demonstrators dressed in black entered the city hall and damaged the building, while a tourist office in Lyon was set ablaze.
In Paris, some young people began looting shops and setting fires as night fell. Police responded with tear gas and batons to disperse crowds.
Government Condemns Violence
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said 1,200 people had been detained during protests across the country. He condemned the violence, describing it as unacceptable.
President Emmanuel Macron also criticised those who disrupted peaceful demonstrations. In a statement posted on X on Saturday night, he warned that people who attacked or looted government offices, businesses and city halls would face legal proceedings and punishment under the law.
The Paris Police Prefecture said officers would not back down in the face of rioters or people attacking law enforcement personnel. It praised officers for responding to the unrest with courage and professionalism.
Hundreds of Thousands Join Demonstrations
Authorities estimated that approximately 550,000 people took part in protests across France on Saturday, including 110,000 in Paris. Organisers, however, claimed that the actual turnout was higher than official figures suggested.
The demonstrations were largely peaceful at first, but violence broke out at several locations later in the day. French authorities said the overwhelming majority of participants remained peaceful.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of the left-wing La France Insoumise party, also emphasised the peaceful nature of much of the mobilisation in a post on X.
He said television news channels were showing images of violence in dozens of cities while thousands of others were gathering peacefully to express their demands, describing them as two different realities.
Protests Reflect Growing Public Frustration
The demonstrations are linked to a protest movement that began with students last month and has since expanded into a broader campaign against government policies, deteriorating conditions in educational institutions, rising living costs and the perceived failure to address public concerns.
Demonstrators say successive governments have failed to respond adequately to people’s demands, fuelling anger among young people and other sections of society.
In Paris, a protester identified as Pauline told CNN that wealth and power were increasingly concentrated in the hands of a few and that the situation was getting out of control.
The 36-year-old said she had joined the demonstration partly to support young people. Although some progress had been made, she argued that the country was not moving in the right direction overall.
Another protester, 38-year-old Louise, criticised what she viewed as the weakening of democracy under Macron’s leadership and the concentration of power. She also alleged that billionaires were controlling the media and said demonstrators were fighting to bring about change.
Questions Raised Over Police Conduct
The police response has also come under scrutiny following reports of injuries during recent operations.
Earlier in the week, a 14-year-old boy reportedly suffered a broken jaw during police action. In the northwestern town of Alençon, footage also appeared to show an officer restraining a girl by holding her neck in the crook of his arm, a technique that has been prohibited under French law.
On Saturday, a protester in Saint-Étienne, approximately 40 miles southwest of Lyon, reportedly lost a hand. BFM TV, a CNN affiliate, cited police sources in reporting the incident.
It was the second reported case of a protester losing a hand during the current student protest movement. Earlier, a student in the northeastern city of Lens reportedly lost a hand after picking up a grenade.
Following that incident, police temporarily suspended the use of one type of stun grenade. The restriction was subsequently lifted, while the use of other types of grenades remained permitted.
Education Reform Among Key Demands
Improving the education system has been one of the central demands of the student movement.
During the autumn, high school students staged demonstrations calling for smaller class sizes, increased spending on teachers, school buildings better equipped to withstand the effects of climate change, and an end to police violence against young people.
Reports indicate that student numbers have increased over the past 15 years amid a rise in birth rates and cuts to education budgets, while the number of teachers available in classrooms has declined.
French Education Minister Édouard Geffray has held several meetings with student representatives in recent weeks, but no agreement has been reached so far.
Protests Spread Beyond France
Demonstrations in solidarity with the movement in France have also taken place in Belgium, Albania and Italy, where young people have joined protest activities.
Despite the violence reported in several French cities, authorities and political figures have acknowledged that most demonstrators gathered peacefully to voice their concerns over government policies, public services and the country’s direction.
