French President Emmanuel Macron is facing sharp criticism after he attended a Celine Dion concert in Nanterre, west of Paris, on Friday night, just hours before nationwide demonstrations escalated into violent clashes across France. The timing of the outing, on the eve of protests that left more than 500 police officers, gendarmes and firefighters injured and nearly 1,800 people arrested, has raised questions about his leadership and preparedness.
Macron and his wife, Brigitte, were seen at the Plenitude Arena among roughly 35,000 spectators, according to French media. The couple reportedly arrived and left discreetly. The concert followed two days Macron spent in Brussels at a European Council meeting, where he called for «calm and respect» ahead of Saturday’s planned demonstrations, stressing that the right to protest must be exercised without harming people or property.
By Saturday, demonstrations over rising living costs, school conditions and declining public services had spiraled into clashes with police, fires, looting and attacks on public buildings in several cities. Authorities said Sunday that nearly 1,800 people had been arrested nationwide, including 855 in the Paris region. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez confirmed the injury toll among emergency personnel. One protester died after suffering cardiac arrest during demonstrations in Paris.
In Limoges, a deliberately set fire at the city hall caused significant damage to the historic building. Shops were looted in Paris, Bordeaux, Marseille, Lyon and other cities, while public buildings were vandalized or targeted by fires. Authorities estimated more than 550,000 people participated in the demonstrations across France, while organizers put the figure at roughly 800,000.
Macron condemned the destruction on Saturday evening in a post on X, stating that those responsible for damaging property, attacking public buildings and looting businesses would face prosecution and punishment. He also expressed support for law enforcement and warned against efforts to undermine French institutions. His statement came after violence had already spread through major cities, fueling criticism of the government’s preparations and its ability to contain the unrest.
The hostilities began as a month-long student movement over school conditions and teacher shortages in working-class suburbs before broadening into a larger protest against inequality, public spending cuts and the rising cost of living. Government officials have blamed violent groups and looters for the destruction. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu attributed the unrest to the «ultra-left» and criminals, while opposition leaders criticized the government’s handling of the violence ahead of next year’s presidential election.
Right-wing leader Marine Le Pen condemned the looting and destruction, while left-wing leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon defended the protesters’ broader grievances and accused Lecornu of «playing with fire.» The violence has left businesses facing extensive damage and mounting financial losses. Carrefour CEO Alexandre Bompard told French television that 50 of the retailer’s stores were damaged, including 20 that were looted, with losses estimated in the tens of millions of euros.
The mayors of Paris, Marseille and Lyon have requested a meeting with the prime minister to discuss the damage. Local officials in Marseille and Bordeaux have announced or proposed emergency assistance for affected businesses. Macron is scheduled to address the nation at 8 p.m. local time Sunday, after meeting with senior government officials. His speech will come as France begins a nationwide cleanup effort and authorities prepare prosecutions for those arrested, marking a critical test for Macron as his government faces mounting pressure over the scale of the destruction, the police response and the economic grievances that fueled the demonstrations.