France Riots Over Cost of Living: What We Know After a Day of Chaos
Massive protests against the cost of living in France degenerated into riots on Saturday, causing widespread destruction and over 1,800 arrests, prompting President Emmanuel Macron to address the nation Sunday evening. Violence erupted in cities including Paris, Marseille, Lyon, and Bordeaux, with shops looted, vehicles burned, and public buildings damaged, including the Limoges city hall. Over 500 police and firefighters were injured, and hundreds of millions of euros in damages are estimated. Police tactics are being criticized, with officials demanding the interior minister's resignation and a parliamentary inquiry. International media highlight the crisis as a symptom of deep political instability, with foreign leaders linking the violence to immigration.