Macron’s ‘incompetence’ fueled France riots – opposition leaders

Politicians from across the political spectrum have accused the French president of undermining public services and failing to maintain order French opposition leaders have blamed President Emmanuel Macron and his government’s policies for the wave of violent unrest sweeping the country.The latest round of demonstrations by students and public sector workers over the high cost of living and deteriorating public services descended into rioting, vandalism and looting in Paris and other cities on Saturday. Thousands of people were arrested, while hundreds of police officers were injured.Marine Le Pen, who leads first-round polling for the 2027 presidential election, described Macron as a president “without credibility or authority” who had “lost all touch with reality,” calling his government “a government on its last legs.”“We are experiencing a profound crisis of trust and authority that threatens democracy. This should serve as a warning: Our country is caught in a vice, even held hostage, between violence and powerlessness,” she said in a message on X. In July, a Paris appeals court upheld Le Pen’s conviction for misusing EU funds but modified her sentence, lifting a ban that had ...