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

Political scientist and Paris Panthéon-Sorbonne University researcher Damien Lecomte says France’s escalating unrest reveals a deep contradiction in the state’s response: disproportionate force against peaceful demonstrators alongside an inability to contain widespread violence. He warns that competing narratives could eclipse grievances over education, public services and the cost of living.