The European Union has said the right to peaceful protest must be protected in France, while condemning incidents of arson, looting and attacks on people and public buildings during nationwide demonstrations over the weekend.
EU spokesman Markus Lammert said peaceful demonstrators should not be treated in the same way as those involved in violence.
“Those who demonstrate peacefully must not be conflated with those who commit violence,” Lammert said, describing arson, looting and attacks on individuals or public buildings as “unacceptable”.
The demonstrations on Saturday, October 17, drew hundreds of thousands of people across France amid growing dissatisfaction over the rising cost of living, higher prices and deteriorating public services, including education. Students, trade unionists and supporters of the Yellow Vest movement joined the rallies to express their grievances.
Although many of the demonstrations began peacefully, clashes broke out between protesters and police in several cities, including Paris, Lyon, Marseille and Bordeaux. Shops were looted, vehicles set ablaze and public buildings damaged, with a fire at the historic city hall in Limoges among the most serious incidents reported.
French authorities put attendance at about 550,000, while the CGT trade union estimated that 800,000 people took part nationwide. The violence prompted arrests and renewed scrutiny of the authorities’ handling of public order.
President Emmanuel Macron condemned the violence and pledged that those responsible would be held accountable, while Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu also criticised the destruction.
The unrest has intensified debate over the government’s response to public grievances and the need to maintain security without undermining the right to peaceful assembly.
The EU’s statement underscored the distinction between peaceful demonstrators exercising their rights and individuals responsible for violence, as France grapples with the aftermath of the protests.
