# France’s social, political and economic crises: ‘A large portion of the population sympathizes’ with protesters

https://mins.news/en/item/107942

- France 24, 2026-10-20 13:32 UTC
- Politics
- Original: https://www.france24.com/en/video/20261020-france-s-sociopolitical-economic-crises-large-portion-of-population-sympathizes-with-protestors

> Political scientist Damien Leconte says France’s escalating unrest reveals a contradiction in the government’s response: disproportionate force against peaceful demonstrators alongside an apparent inability to contain widespread violence. He warns repression will not make the social crisis disappear. With presidential elections approaching, efforts to restore order are bound up with political legitimacy, civil liberties and France’s future direction.

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