French riots expose a nation on the brink

France is reeling after a weekend of riots and looting across major cities, leaving hundreds of shops and businesses destroyed, following student protests over school conditions that escalated into nationwide unrest. The protests began over funding issues in public schools but were joined by broader sections of French society with grievances about declining public services. President Emmanuel Macron lacks funds to address these problems due to France's spiralling deficit, while security shortcomings threaten his fragile government's budget bill. Expert Dr Emanuelle Schon-Quinlivan says the unrest plays into the hands of far-right leader Marine Le Pen, who she believes has "all the cards" to win the presidency. The "utter collapse" of mainstream conservatives may push voters from far-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon toward Le Pen.