Marine Le Pen blames LFI for October 17 riots, calls strategy incendiary

Marine Le Pen has condemned the riots that occurred during October 17 protests, blaming La France Insoumise for what she calls an "incendiary strategy" that legitimized violence. She accused the left-wing party of hijacking legitimate social demands. The National Rally leader criticized LFI deputies for considering order as oppression and disorder as a right, while promising to protect French citizens from "far-left violence" and "toxic Macronist policies." Her comments came as authorities reported 855 arrests in Paris and 1,200 nationwide. The protests drew over 500,000 participants across France, with 150 police and gendarmes injured. LFI had publicly supported the demonstrations before condemning the violence that occurred during them.