France in turmoil
Country grapples with unrest over the cost of living, degraded schools
SPOTLIGHT| EUROPE
France has seen some of its worst unrest in years over the cost of living and underfunded public services.
The protests began last month at high schools in Paris' working-class northern suburbs, where anger over teacher shortages and shabby facilities evolved into a broader movement.
President Emmanuel Macron said he ordered a review to determine whether there were failings in intelligence gathering or police preparedness before protests that later were marred by looting and violence. He said prefects and mayors would be empowered to ban certain gatherings where necessary.
He also said he asked the government to bring together students, teachers, lawmakers, trade union representatives and business leaders to formulate what he described as "concrete proposals" to address the crisis.
Authorities said 2,500 people were in custody awaiting questioning while almost 150 were detained awaiting trial.
Partial curfews were imposed in parts of Paris, Bordeaux, Lille, Lyon, Nice and Marseille to keep the streets quiet in areas worst hit by rioting. The government, which mobilized 60,000 officers, planned to increase police numbers on the ground.
Cities grew quieter but some protesters called for a new round of demonstrations. Unions called for strikes Nov. 5 to protest budget cuts and support hiking wages. Schools began a two-week break, but some student organizations also called for more demonstrations.
What will the government do?
For businesses and victims of violence, the government planned to implement state-financed furlough measures to avoid layoffs, and provide funds to help companies meet cashflow needs. Insurers promised speedy payouts to cover some of the damage, which hit more than 3,000 shops.
France's extremely strained public finances mean the government has precious little room for broader measures to address protesters' anger over the rising cost of living.
It already hiked emergency spending this year to help certain sectors like farmers, fishermen and haulers cope with high fuel costs caused by the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran that began Feb. 28.
The government so far has not committed to substantial extra funding for schools but pledged to send about 3,000 teachers, who are qualified but not yet working, to fill staffing gaps.
How will France's finances be affected?
The unrest is a blow to business confidence, which was already fragile due to a fiscal crisis and high energy prices.
The minority government is struggling to pass spending cuts in a divided parliament as part of its 2027 budget and is at risk of being toppled by opposition parties if a compromise cannot be found with at least some of them.
The government wants to cut its budget deficit to 5% of economic output next year from 5.4% this year — one of the biggest in the euro zone.
The yield on France's 10-year benchmark bond reached 5% at one point in recent days.
Will the unrest spread?
If France cannot contain the unrest, there is a risk that it could spill across its borders with deep public anger around Europe over cost-of-living issues.
Neighboring Italy planned to approve new security measures targeting minors, politicians said Oct. 20, after days of unrest that saw demonstrators clash with police, loot shops and vandalize property.
Albania also has seen student demonstrations in recent days over corruption, a lack of jobs and poor education standards, while Spain and Portugal faced protests over housing.
How will it affect French elections?
Elections next year will see Macron step down after a decade in power. The unrest is likely to boost far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen, who is already the frontrunner in polls and long talked tough on law and order.
"Le Pen no longer needs to spend any money to campaign," Jean-Baptiste Moreau, a former lawmaker from Macron's camp, told Reuters. "It's not just a clear path ahead of her, it's a sixlane highway."
Hard-left candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon came under pressure for backing protesters' demands, criticizing the government's handling and not clearly condemning the violence.
Macron emerged from the crisis further weakened. His former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, now a center-right presidential candidate, said on social media that he wanted "decisions and initiatives" from the lame-duck leader to "restore order."
Is it safe to visit?
There have been no reports of injuries to foreigners caught up in the unrest.
However, several European governments advised citizens traveling to France to avoid large crowds and exercise caution.
