Large-scale demonstrations have rocked France for weeks, driven by young people demanding education reform, protesting high fuel costs and poor public services, and expressing doubt about a proposed 2027 budget. The unrest escalated dramatically over the weekend, with an estimated half a million people taking to the streets across the country. According to the Interior Ministry, nearly 1,000 security personnel were injured, around 2,400 protesters were arrested, and at least 3,000 businesses were pillaged.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez offered to resign on Monday, admitting that police had been unprepared for the scale of the unrest. President Emmanuel Macron did not accept the resignation, but Nuñez sent a second letter of intent, telling France Inter: 'I am resubmitting my resignation because I am responsible for everything that is happening.'
The country's ruling coalition has instead blamed the hard-left France Unbowed party for fomenting the crisis. Lecornu said there was 'a far-left movement that wants to cause profound unrest in the country in the run-up to the presidential election' next April. The far-right National Rally party has echoed that accusation, arguing the rioting shows Macron has lost control of the country.
France Unbowed leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon has expressed support for the peaceful elements of the student-led movement, denouncing alleged police brutality and arguing that the demonstrations result from '10 disastrous years' of Macron's government.
U.S. President Donald Trump weighed in on Truth Social, writing that 'the migrants have taken over France' and calling for border closures. No evidence has been reported of undocumented migrants worsening the protests.
The unrest has spread to other European countries, including Belgium and Italy. Another round of massive demonstrations across France, dubbed 'Act II,' is scheduled for Saturday.