President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte were spotted at a Celine Dion concert Friday night at the Plenitude Arena in Nanterre, west of Paris. The couple arrived and left discreetly among roughly 35,000 spectators.

Protests turn violent

That evening coincided with a wave of demonstrations across France over rising living costs, school conditions and cuts to public services. By Saturday, the protests had escalated into clashes with police, fires, looting and attacks on public buildings in multiple cities.

French authorities reported nearly 1,800 arrests nationwide, including 855 in the Paris region, and more than 500 police officers, gendarmes and firefighters were injured. One protester died of cardiac arrest in Paris.

In Limoges, a fire set at 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 arson.

Government response

Macron condemned the destruction on X, stating that those responsible for damaging property, attacking public buildings and looting businesses would face prosecution. He also expressed support for law‑enforcement officers and warned against efforts to undermine French institutions.

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu blamed the unrest on “ultra‑left” groups and criminals. 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, while left‑wing leader Jean‑Luc Mélenchon defended the protesters’ broader grievances and accused the government of “playing with fire.”

Economic impact

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.

Mayors of Paris, Marseille and Lyon have requested a meeting with the prime minister to discuss the damage, and local officials in Marseille and Bordeaux have announced emergency assistance for affected businesses.

Upcoming address

Macron is scheduled to address the nation Sunday evening after meeting with senior officials. The speech will come as France begins a nationwide cleanup effort and authorities prepare prosecutions for those arrested.

Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.