Paris awoke Sunday to shattered storefronts, burned cars and a heavy police presence after nationwide unrest erupted.
Nationwide Demonstrations Turn Violent
Violent clashes broke out Saturday during protests over rising living costs and deteriorating school conditions, with hundreds of thousands marching across France. Masked groups confronted police, looted businesses and set fires in multiple cities, prompting authorities to report 1,800 arrests, including 855 in the Paris region.
Historic Town Hall Destroyed in Limoges
A fire ripped through Limoges’s 1883 town hall, a designated historic landmark, after far‑left rioters set the building ablaze. The local prefect, Maurice Barate, told AFP that the roof collapsed onto lower floors and roughly two‑thirds of the exterior vanished, calling the damage “a catastrophe for heritage.”
Macron Criticized for Concert Appearance
President Emmanuel Macron had urged “calm and respect” before the demonstrations, insisting the right to protest must honor people and property. Yet video footage showed him and his wife, Brigitte, attending a Celine Dion concert in Nanterre, leaving discreetly amid roughly 35,000 spectators, sparking accusations of detachment.
Trump Blames Immigration
President Donald Trump weighed in on Sunday, posting on Truth Social that immigration “has shattered that once great country” and urging France to close its borders. His comment linked the unrest directly to immigrant populations, a claim met with swift criticism.
Amanda Macias covers the intersection of business, economics and politics, focusing on how policy decisions shape markets, businesses and American workers.
