The French president, Emmanuel Macron, condemned on Sunday what he called “dissidents” who looted and vandalized cities in “shocking” scenes across France, on the fringes of protests against the rising cost of living.
“After seeing these images, we all ask ourselves: what was going through these people’s heads? How can the French do this to France?” Macron said in a televised address to the nation. “Nothing justifies this, nothing explains it, nothing excuses this. Tonight, all of us feel anger and shame.”
Macron, whose last six months in office have been marked by growing political, fiscal and social pressures, said he had ordered an investigation to determine whether there were failures in intelligence gathering or in the police’s preparation before the protests, which were later marked by looting and violence.
He stated that mayors would have authority to ban certain gatherings when necessary.
Macron also said he had asked the government to convene students, teachers, parliamentarians, union representatives and business leaders this week to formulate what he described as “concrete proposals” to deal with the crisis, without providing further details.
“We need to sit at the table and build solutions together,” he said.
