Widespread Riots and Looting Shake France Following Cost-of-Living Protests
Massive riots and looting across France following cost-of-living protests have caused hundreds of millions of euros in damages, affecting over 1,500 businesses.
Authorities in Marseille, France's third-largest city, declared a curfew and public gathering ban from noon until 8:00 PM. The Bouches-du-Rhône prefecture announced that the directive takes immediate effect and will be strictly enforced by law enforcement authorities. Marseille Mayor Benoît Payan criticized the central government, stating that police resource shortages endanger officers and students alike.
More than 1,500 businesses have suffered direct damage, with losses estimated in the hundreds of millions of euros, according to Alexandre Bompard, CEO of Carrefour and president of the French Federation for Commerce and Distribution (FCD). The protests, which began as demonstrations against the cost of living, drew over 500,000 participants nationwide, including 110,000 in Paris, but quickly deteriorated into widespread riots and looting.
Luxury boutiques, electronics stores, and major retail outlets were targeted across major French cities, including Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux, and Marseille. Vandalism and looting affected locations belonging to brands such as Apple, Nike, Louis Vuitton, and Galeries Lafayette. In response to the chaos, business owners have taken security into their own measures, sleeping in shops or hiring private security as the government scrambles to organize emergency compensation measures.
