Macron Vows Punishment for Rioters in French Protests

French President Emmanuel Macron stated on social media platform X that individuals responsible for rioting and disorder during protests in France will be held accountable and punished, emphasizing that there is "no place for violence" in the republic. He also expressed support for law enforcement officers. The protests began in late September with high school student demonstrations in the Ile-de-France region over education issues and later spread nationwide. On October 17, activists, youth, trade unions, workers' movements, and far-left groups took to the streets, with over half a million participants according to the French Interior Ministry, opposing rising fuel prices and declining purchasing power. Clashes with police occurred in Paris, where tear gas and water cannons were deployed, and 1,200 people have been arrested across the country. The Russian Foreign Ministry previously commented on the causes of the French protests.