Macron condemns riots, offers no new measures after weekend unrest
Emmanuel Macron told France on Sunday, 18 October 2026, that he felt "anger and shame" after a weekend of violent rioting and looting. Speaking for eight minutes from his office at the Élysée Palace, he addressed the country after largely peaceful protests were overtaken by destruction in several cities.
More than 2,000 shops were looted during the unrest, and 2,300 people were arrested. About 1,000 police officers were injured. In Limoges, the city hall was set on fire. In Marseille, the city hall was invaded, according to The Guardian.
The unrest followed a month-long protest by high school pupils over crumbling and crowded classrooms. That action converged with wider frustration over living costs, inequality and falling public spending. Students, teachers, trade unionists and a resurrected gilets jaunes movement took part in the broader demonstrations. Masked groups hijacked largely peaceful protests to torch vehicles, ransack businesses and damage public infrastructure.
In the address, published by the Élysée as "Adresse aux Français," Macron condemned "shocking" scenes of violence and urged calm as France counted the cost, according to Reuters and the Élysée. He said those who sought to bring down the Republic would be held accountable. He did not declare a state of emergency.
He announced no concrete policy initiatives, cabinet reshuffle or new public spending. He asked his prime minister to organise consultations.
The speech drew criticism across the political spectrum. National Rally's Jordan Bardella called it "lamentable" and said Macron had "nothing left to say" to the French. Marine Le Pen said France was "caught in a vice between violence and impotence." Centre-right politician Bruno Retailleau said Macron was "totally overwhelmed."
From the left, Jean-Luc Mélenchon accused Macron of relying on "inaction and police brutality" in response to the protests. Former prime minister Édouard Philippe said he would have preferred "decisions and initiatives" to return to order and restore state authority.
