Macron Denounces 'Insurrectionist Elements' as France's Riot Arrests Top 2,400
French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday voiced the public's “anger” and “shame” over rioting and looting during nationwide protests against rising living costs and poor conditions in schools. At least 2,400 people were arrested. Macron echoed other government officials in blaming much of the violence on far-left activists, accusing them of attacking police and public buildings to foment chaos, and he denounced “unrestrained violence” by “insurrectionist elements from radical far-left groups, joined by numerous criminals.” He had earlier held an emergency meeting with senior government officials, a day after masked groups set fires and attacked city halls in several cities.
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Macron's language separates the protests' stated grievances—living costs, school conditions—from the disorder blamed on far-left elements.
But the blame isn't only coming from the Élysée. Marine Le Pen called Macron's government “exhausted, disoriented and seemingly incapable of doing anything other than commenting on its own powerlessness,” while Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who joined the Paris march, insisted that “those who share our fight have no business in looting or destruction.” Le Pen uses the unrest to attack the government; Mélenchon tries to keep the protest separate from the looting.