Politics‘Police weren’t overwhelmed by people protesting and marching’ over education and cost of living

Andrew Smith says France’s escalating unrest exposes a troubling gap between legitimate public grievances and the government’s increasingly security-focused response. He argues that violence during largely peaceful demonstrations points to serious policing failures, while Emmanuel Macron’s response offers “very little of substance.” Economic insecurity, educational inequality and political paralysis are converging, he says, and repression risks worsening the crisis.

France protestssocial unrestcost of livingeducationEmmanuel Macron

FFrance 24★★★☆☆2026-10-19 14:58Original