France Arrests 2,400 After Riots Hit 3,000 Shops, Offers Aid to Businesses
Updated
Updated · Reuters · Oct 19
France Arrests 2,400 After Riots Hit 3,000 Shops, Offers Aid to Businesses
3 articles · Updated · Reuters · Oct 19
Summary
2,400 people were arrested after weekend protests over living costs and public services spiraled into some of France's worst unrest in years, with Limoges town hall torched and looting reported across multiple cities.
3,000 shops were pillaged or damaged, prompting the government to prepare partial curfews, review online footage to identify suspects and promise more police on the streets if protests flare again next weekend.
State-backed furlough support and emergency cashflow aid are being readied for affected businesses, though officials have not yet detailed the funding, while insurers are expected to cover part of the losses.
The unrest is adding to pressure on Macron's weakened minority government, which is already struggling with a fiscal crisis, a divided parliament and market strain that pushed France's 10-year bond spread over Germany to 146 basis points.
Fresh demonstrations are already being planned for October 24 and union strikes for November 5, raising the risk the crisis deepens in France and feeds support for far-right frontrunner Marine Le Pen before the 2027 election.