French protests over cost of living turn violent in multiple cities
Between 550,000 and 800,000 people demonstrated in France on Saturday against the high cost of living, but the protests were marred by violent clashes, looting, and property destruction in multiple cities, leading to around 400 arrests. President Emmanuel Macron condemned the violence, vowing that those who "broke" and "looted" would be "prosecuted and punished," while Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu chaired a crisis cell. Authorities blamed the ultra-left for the unrest, which included attacks on public buildings, with the Limoges city hall reportedly set on fire. The demonstrations echoed the 2018-2019 "yellow vest" movement, with festive marches in Paris contrasting with evening clashes. One protester lost a hand to a police grenade in Saint-Étienne, and unions called for continued peaceful mobilization ahead of a planned November 5 strike.