Violent protests against cost of living measures in France led to clashes, with a police officer set on fire in Paris. Marine Le Pen condemned the attack and called for harsh punishment.
Protests turn violent in Paris
Protests against cost of living measures in France on Saturday led to violent clashes, with a police officer reportedly set on fire in Paris. The demonstrations, which have been ongoing for several days, have drawn significant attention and concern from authorities.Marine Le Pen condemns the attack
Marine Le Pen, the candidate for the National Rally in the presidential election, condemned the attack on social media, calling for the perpetrators to be found and severely punished. She also criticized the "hordes of the extreme left" and expressed solidarity with security forces and emergency services.Clashes and arrests reported nationwide
According to reports, violent confrontations erupted at Porte de Charenton in Paris after the end of the demonstration. Footage showed protesters throwing Molotov cocktails at law enforcement. A police officer who was hit by the flames was seen burning. The Interior Ministry announced 296 arrests nationwide for the third day of protests against the cost of living.Radical elements target multiple cities
The Interior Ministry noted that "radical elements" attempted to enter city centers in several cities, including Bordeaux, Toulouse, Rennes, Lille, Nantes, Marseille, and Lyon, with the intent of causing damage and looting. In Marseille, tensions arose during the dispersal of an unauthorized demonstration that gathered thousands of people.Protests and police actions in various cities
In Toulouse, police used water cannons against an unauthorized protest, which mainly consisted of young people. In Lyon, a slogan reading "Even Santa has the balls" was spotted on a banner, while in Bordeaux, a sign read "The beginning of fascism starts with the fear of protesting."Jean-Luc Mélenchon comments on the protests
Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the presidential candidate for the French Communist Party (LFI), stated on X that despite media efforts to create panic and a change in the gathering location, the crowd was as large and disciplined as the previous week. At Place de la Nation in Paris, some protesters arrived slowly and were seen heading home, while others sought further action.Protest participation estimates vary
According to organizers, nearly half a million people participated in the protests, with 200,000 in Paris, significantly higher than the Interior Ministry's estimate of 320,000 participants nationwide. In Paris, the police reported 70,000 demonstrators. However, the atmosphere at Place de la Bastille was calm in the late afternoon, with some confusion about the protest's location.Transport restrictions and smaller demonstrations
In response to the protests, several areas in Paris were designated as restricted zones for electric scooters and bikes. Operators like Lime and Dott implemented temporary bans on circulation and parking along the protest route and around gathering points. In Limoges, the demonstration approached 3,000 participants, while in La Rochelle, more than a thousand people gathered in the morning.Spontaneous demonstrations and localized tensions
A spontaneous demonstration of 200 people on Rue de la Roquette in Paris was asked by the police to either join the authorized route or disperse. In Lyon, the demonstration arrived calmly at Place Jean Macé, but tensions arose when protesters threw projectiles at law enforcement, prompting police to use defensive measures. In Rennes, the number of demonstrators reached 13,500, higher than the previous week. In Nantes, the demonstration was smaller than the previous week but still gathered on the island, with one bridge to the city center blocked by police.
