France's Riots Spread to Belgium as Inflation Fuels Social Unrest

France experienced widespread riots and looting this weekend, with 13 police officers and two firefighters injured and hundreds of buildings and shops targeted. The mayor of Paris described streets as "methodically ravaged," while President Emmanuel Macron promised perpetrators would be "pursued and punished." The violence spread to Belgium, where hundreds protested in Brussels and Liège against government policies and police repression, resulting in property damage. Interior Minister Bernard Quintin condemned "organized and repeated violence" aimed at destabilizing society. Analysts attribute the unrest to inflation, declining purchasing power, and a widespread sense of social decline, with experts warning of a potential "inflationary spiral" that could intensify the movement.