France unrest: Macron condemns looting as anger over living costs grows
Al Jazeera English · Published on October 18, 2026
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French President Emmanuel Macron has condemned vandalism and looting as “unacceptable” after weeks of unrest and violence across France. Protesters have taken to the streets amid economic hardship and concerns over the cost of living, with clashes and destruction reported in cities including Paris, Marseille and Limoges. Residents and business owners are now assessing the damage to their properties, while many demonstrators say they are fighting for a better future. In Limoges, the city's mayor criticised the government for failing to provide sufficient resources to protect City Hall from being burned. Macron has pledged support for affected business owners as his government faces mounting pressure to restore order. But the unrest has exposed deeper tensions over economic insecurity, public spending and the government's response to people's concerns. The challenge for Macron is to convince the public that their grievances are being heard while bringing the country back to calm. Al Jazeera's Natacha Butler reports. Subscribe to our channel: http://bit.ly/AJSubscribe Follow us on X : https://twitter.com/AJEnglish Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera Check our website: http://www.aljazeera.com/ Check out our Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/aljazeeraenglish/ Download AJE Mobile App: https://aje.news/AJEMobile