French protests over living costs turn violent in Marseille and Limoges

More than half a million people, many of them young, protested against the French government on Saturday, with demonstrations in cities like Paris, Marseille, and Limoges turning violent, resulting in 1,200 arrests and 150 injured police officers. The unrest included looting, vandalism, and the burning of town halls. The turnout far exceeded the government's forecast of 150,000, marking the largest protest since September of last year. While some marches were peaceful, groups of hooded "black bloc" activists set fires, smashed storefronts, and damaged institutional buildings, including the torched town hall in Limoges. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu condemned the "extreme intensity" of the violence. The protests, fueled by inflation and planned budget cuts, echo the 2018 "yellow vest" movement but are led by students and supported by left-wing parties. President Emmanuel Macron stated that violence has no place in the Republic, as the unrest poses a challenge for the government ahead of presidential elections in six months.