France Counts Cost of Violent Cost-of-Living Protests as 1,800 Arrested

France was counting the cost on Sunday of a day of violent nationwide protests over the cost of living, with more than 1,800 people arrested and around 1,500 businesses damaged in some of the worst unrest the country has seen in years.

Saturday’s demonstrations, called to protest rising living costs, drew hundreds of thousands of people to streets across France. What began as peaceful marches in many cities turned violent in several centres, leaving burnt-out vehicles, shattered shopfronts and a 19th-century town hall in ruins.

The interior ministry said 550,000 people took part in the protests nationwide. The CGT union put the figure higher, at 800,000 demonstrators.

A night of damage and arrests

Police made 1,800 arrests across the country, officials said. In Paris alone, a record 557 people were taken into custody, a figure one resident described to reporters as making the capital feel “like we had a war”.

The Retail and Trade Federation said about 1,500 businesses suffered damage, with losses estimated in the hundreds of millions of euros. In Limoges, the city’s 19th-century town hall was destroyed by a deliberately set fire.

Around 500 police officers, firefighters and paramedics were hurt in the clashes. In Saint-Etienne, a 17-year-old boy had his right hand blown off by a crowd-control grenade, an incident that is certain to renew the debate over French policing methods.

One person died during the Paris march, though officials said the death was health-related and not linked to violence.

Macron to address the nation

President Emmanuel Macron was due to address the nation on Sunday evening at 1800 GMT, while Prime Minister Lecornu scheduled a crisis meeting for Monday morning at 0800 GMT.

The principal grievance driving the protests is the rising cost of living, which demonstrators say has been pushed up by the continuing Middle East war and its effect on energy and food prices. The unrest comes only days after earlier protests put French policing under scrutiny, when student demonstrations left several young people injured and raised questions about the use of force by officers. Paris has seen repeated street confrontations in recent weeks, and Saturday’s turnout suggests the anger is spreading well beyond students.

Trump and Vance weigh in

The protests drew reactions from across the Atlantic. US President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social blaming immigration for the unrest, writing “France is burning!”. Vice President JD Vance wrote on X that the unrest reflected failed assimilation policies, tying the scenes in France to the American midterm debate.

The comments are likely to strain an already tense transatlantic relationship, with Paris expected to respond in the coming days.

Why the France protests matter

The scale of the damage sets this round of protests apart. Hundreds of millions of euros in business losses, a destroyed town hall and nearly 2,000 arrests point to a level of anger that goes beyond a single day of marching.

For the government, the coming week will be critical. Macron’s address on Sunday evening and the crisis meeting on Monday will signal whether Paris plans concessions, a tougher security response or both. With the cost of living still climbing, organisers have warned that further demonstrations are possible.

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Frequently asked questions

How many people were arrested in the France protests?

More than 1,800 people were arrested across France during Saturday’s cost-of-living protests, including a record 557 in Paris.

How much damage did the protests cause?

The Retail and Trade Federation said around 1,500 businesses were damaged, with losses estimated in the hundreds of millions of euros. A 19th-century town hall in Limoges was destroyed by arson.

What are the France protests about?

The principal grievance is the rising cost of living, which protesters say has been driven up by the Middle East war’s effect on energy and food prices.

What happens next in France?

President Macron was due to address the nation on Sunday evening, and Prime Minister Lecornu will chair a crisis meeting on Monday morning.