Riots overtook peaceful cost-of-living protests across France on Saturday, with officials calling the violence unprecedented. The interior ministry reported at least 1,800 arrests, and Carrefour's CEO said 50 of its stores were targeted. The unrest adds pressure on a government that is trying to pass a budget ahead of an uncertain election.
France woke on Sunday to at least 1,800 arrests nationwide, the interior ministry said, after riots hijacked peaceful protests against the high cost of living. Paris accounted for 855 of those arrests, which a police official called a record for the city in one day.
Rioters hit stores and city halls
Thousands of black-clad and masked rioters joined protests that drew an estimated 550,000 demonstrators. Police struggled to contain attacks on businesses and official buildings from Marseille to Paris, Bordeaux and Lyon. Rioters burned down the historic city hall in Limoges, where police ran out of tear gas and had to retreat.
The Financial Times reported some 500 police and firefighters injured, while Business Insider cited Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez as saying 600 police officers were hurt and more than 2,000 people were arrested.
Retailers count the damage
Carrefour CEO Alexandre Bompard said 50 of its stores were targeted by rioters on Saturday. Bompard wrote on X, in French, that "Nothing can justify such violence".
He added that about 1,500 other shops were damaged. Bompard said repairs will cost more than 10 million euros and asked for faster compensation procedures, as in natural disasters.
Politicians trade blame
The violence comes six months ahead of an uncertain election to succeed President Emmanuel Macron. The government is also trying to pass a budget amid bond market jitters about France's ability to rein in its deficit, the Financial Times reported.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu criticised La France Insoumise and its leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon for not condemning the violence forcefully enough. Mélenchon called the protests largely peaceful and said Lecornu was responsible for the chaos through incompetence.
Sources: Business Insider, Financial Times
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