France hit by worst unrest in years as attempts to rein in government spending meet citizen ire

A protestor with a gas mask holds a French flag in front of a fire at the Boulevard des Capucines during a demonstration to protest against the "high cost of living", in Paris on October 17, 2026 as part of a nationwide call for mobilisation bringing together various groups expressing their anger.Kiran Ridley | Afp | Getty ImagesFrance endured its worst unrest in years this weekend as nationwide protests over high living costs and declining public services turned violent ahead of a key government vote on the budget.Demonstrations erupted into riots on Saturday, with almost 2,400 people arrested, shops looted or damaged and buildings covered in graffiti as violent groups clashed with police in cities across the country, according to the interior ministry. Nearly 1,000 police officers and gendarmes were injured, the ministry said.President Emmanuel Macron, whose final months in office are increasingly defined by mounting political, fiscal and social discontent, ordered a review of whether there had been failings in intelligence gathering or police preparedness, and asked the government to bring together students, teachers, lawmakers, unions and business leaders this week to produce "...