Key Facts

• Protests began with young people upset about schools but expanded to national issues like the high cost of living and public service cuts.
• Violent riots occurred in many cities including Paris, Marseille, Limoges, and Lyon.
• Nearly 2,500 people have been arrested across the country.
• Historic buildings, such as the 19th-century Limoges town hall, were burned or vandalized.
• French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu blamed some violence on an ultra-left group trying to disrupt the presidential election in April.
• The government is ready to impose local curfews and may declare a state of emergency if needed.
• President Emmanuel Macron promised to hold those responsible accountable, emphasizing the importance of protecting the election.
• President Donald Trump claimed on social media that migrants were responsible and called for border closures, though French officials made no such connection.