French President Emmanuel Macron urged calm after nationwide protests over rising living costs and declining public services escalated into riots, leaving businesses damaged, public buildings burned and thousands arrested.

Macron Condemns France Riots

Macron condemned the violence in a televised address Sunday, a day after more than half a million people joined demonstrations across France, Reuters reported.

"Nothing justifies it, nothing explains it, nothing excuses it," Macron said. "Tonight, we all feel anger and shame."

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said police made 2,400 arrests nationwide, while nearly 1,000 officers were injured. One protester died after suffering a cardiac arrest during demonstrations in Paris.

Violent groups looted shops and supermarkets, attacked police and damaged public buildings. In Limoges, a fire destroyed the town hall’s clock tower, prompting Mayor Guillaume Guerin to demand funding for repairs.

Hundreds of Shops Damaged as Clashes Continue

The unrest continued Sunday, with police firing tear gas at protesters in Paris.

Macron stopped short of declaring a state of emergency but said the government would allow regional officials to ban demonstrations when necessary to protect public buildings and businesses.

Far-right National Rally leader Marine Le Pen also called for calm, saying, "Violence is not an opinion. Destruction is not a form of expression. And chaos cannot serve as a project for France."

Carrefour CEO Alexandre Bompard told BFMTV that 50 of the retailer’s stores were damaged, including 20 that were looted, with losses reaching tens of millions of euros.

France’s Debt Crisis and Political Turmoil

Last year, France faced widespread protests and a credit downgrade from Fitch Ratings to A+ from AA- amid political instability and rising debt.

Former Prime Minister François Bayrou was ousted in a September 2025 no-confidence vote after proposing €44 billion in spending cuts and eliminating two public holidays.

French Markets and Bond Yields

The CAC 40 closed at 7,956.70 on Friday, up 0.28%, according to market data.

France’s 10-year government bond yield stood at around 4.79% on Friday, according to Trading Economics, remaining near its highest level in more than two decades amid concerns over the country’s rising public debt and political uncertainty.