French cost-of-living protests turn into riots, ~1,800 arrested

Summary

Cost-of-living protests across France have escalated into the worst rioting in years, with about 1,800 people arrested and the government's handling of public order now openly questioned, while similar protests have spread to Italy and Albania.⁠123

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu described the violence as organized, and the government convened crisis talks on Sunday after public buildings were burned and hundreds of shops were destroyed and looted.⁠45

Some commentators have called the state's response a 'colossal failure', and far-right candidate Marine Le Pen warned of a 'threat to democracy' while attacking what she called an exhausted Macronist power.⁠56

The demonstrations began over living costs and cuts to public services, drew about 550,000 people, and then broke into looting and arson, including the collapse of the spire at the historic Limoges town hall.⁠7

In Russia, a massive Ukrainian drone attack set an oil terminal and warehouses ablaze in St. Petersburg.⁠8

UN data show over 1 billion tons of food discarded each year while 645 million people faced hunger in 2025.⁠9

The next test for France is whether the government moves to speed compensation for retailers facing damages estimated in the hundreds of millions of euros after the looting.⁠10