President Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday that “nothing justifies” the violence seen in French cities, said local authorities could ban certain rallies “if necessary,” and announced no state of emergency or curfew.
Macron addressed the nation on Sunday, October 18, 2026, a day after protests turned into riots in several French cities, France 24 reported.
What He Said
“Tonight, we all feel anger and shame,” Macron said, denouncing “unbridled” violence. He distinguished between protesters with “legitimate demands” and those who “destroyed, smashed and looted,” France 24 reported. He said authorities would be “uncompromising” toward “agitators from ultra-left fringe groups” and added that “those who looted will have to pay back for the damage, and those who sought to bring down the Republic will be held accountable.”
What He Announced
- Rallies: local authorities will be able to ban certain rallies “if necessary” in the coming days.
- No emergency powers: no state of emergency or curfew was announced.
- Intelligence: Macron asked Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez to “draw all necessary lessons,” particularly on intelligence gathering and anticipation.
- Businesses: he promised support for affected businesses and “full transparency” on the response of the security forces.
He also said: “Our country deserves a fine presidential election.”
The Numbers Behind the Speech
France 24 and SBS reported that nearly 2,400 people were arrested on Saturday and almost 1,000 police and gendarmes were injured, seven of them seriously.
Reactions
Marine Le Pen said the administration was “running on fumes, exhausted and disoriented,” according to France 24. Jean-Luc Mélenchon warned of “uncontrollable” events ahead. Jordan Bardella called the speech “lamentable,” SBS reported.
Why It Matters
Macron stopped short of the drastic measures of a state of emergency or curfew, while allowing local rally bans. Whether it calms the streets will become clear before the unions’ next day of action.
