‘Those Who Destroyed Will Pay’: Macron Breaks Silence As Massive Protests & Chaos Grip France

What happened yesterday was witnessed in many cities across mainland France, as well as in our overseas territories. Yesterday, Saturday, October 17th, extremists from far-left groups, joined by numerous criminals, unleashed widespread violence in our cities. Shops were looted, public buildings, businesses and town halls were attacked, and some were destroyed. Several hundred police officers and gendarmes were injured. Looking at these images, we all ask ourselves, what is going through their minds? How can French citizens do this to France? Why burn down the town hall in Limoges, the tourist office in Lyon, storm the town hall in Marseille, or attack the prefect residence in Bordeaux? How can anyone go this far? Nothing justifies it. Nothing explains it. Nothing excuses it. Tonight, we all feel anger and shame. Seeing our city streets vandalized in this way is unbearable. On your behalf, I express the nation's support for our law enforcement officers and internal security forces. They stood their ground and did the best they could. Our thoughts are with the many injured officers and their families. I also express our support for all our mayors and elected officials. I want to extend that support to the many shopkeepers, craftspeople, and business owners who have suffered the consequences of this violence and now are facing distressing circumstances. Some defended their own shops and storefronts against the rioters. I want them to know that they will not be left alone to face these difficulties. The government will provide answers. As early as tomorrow, the Prime Minister will chair a crisis response meeting to mobilize assistance as quickly as possible, and support everyone going through these extremely difficult hours. We must face the facts. Yesterday, despite their professionalism, our law enforcement officers were subjected to extraordinary violence in numerous cities, repeatedly. I have asked the government to draw all the necessary lessons regarding intelligence gathering and preparedness, and to ensure that this cannot happen again. I expect clear answers and full transparency will be provided. That is what I have asked of the Interior Minister. Investigations will be conducted with all due diligence and as quickly as possible. The Minister of Justice has instructed prosecutors to pursue the cases with the utmost firmness. Judicial follow-up must set an example. Our judges administer justice in your name, and they know what you expect of them. Whenever offenses are committed, they must lead to appropriate judicial action. Those who destroyed property must pay. Those who looted must reimburse their victims. Those who sought to bring down the Republic will have to answer for their actions. We must also look clearly and honestly at what is being expressed across the country. Yesterday, several hundreds of our fellow citizens demonstrated because they wanted to put forward legitimate grievances. We must never confuse these demonstrators with those who destroyed, smashed and looted. The demonstrators expressed concerns about the cost of living and fuel prices, which have been affected by the conflict that began in the Persian Gulf, a conflict in which France has not participated, but the consequences of which we are experiencing. I fully understand their concerns. They're being expressed in several other European capitals as well. In response, I have taken several international initiatives to secure our fuel and gas supplies and address developments in energy markets. I will continue these efforts tomorrow morning by traveling to the Gulf countries to secure our supplies. The Prime Minister and the government have also taken decisions in coordination with fuel distributors to ensure that these efforts translate into tangible reductions in prices. The government is doing everything possible to address this essential issue of purchasing power. I know that the French people expect concrete results, and we will continue to act. For several months now, our young people have also been expressing deep anxiety in high schools and universities. They're worried about their future, their living and studying conditions, their ability to choose a career path, plan ahead, and find their place in society. In other words, they fear that there may be no future worth looking at. I understand our high school and university students. They've been at the heart of my political commitment for more than 10 years. Their voices must be heard without prejudice and without minimizing their difficulties. The government has already begun working on this. The Minister of National Education has taken action and established a platform that has received 100,000 contributions in addition to meetings held across regional education authorities and high schools. This will enable us to develop appropriate responses together with our young people. Our responsibility, therefore, is twofold – to listen to people's anger and address its causes while firmly upholding public order under the Republic. We must neither confuse legitimate grievances with violence, nor allow violence to prevent those grievances from being heard. That is why I want to set out a clear approach tonight. First, given the current circumstances, prefects will work with mayors to protect our cities, public buildings and businesses. This includes banning certain gatherings when necessary and taking whatever other measures are required. Second, I call on all political parties, professional organizations and trade unions to condemn all violence unequivocally and call for calm. Everyone must take responsibility. The country needs order and calm, not escalation. In the coming days, the Prime Minister will bring the relevant groups together to obtain clear and public positions. Third, we cannot ask our young people to believe in the future without giving them the opportunity to help shape solutions and have a seat at the table. Yes, we must sit down and develop solutions. Students, teachers, representatives of employers, organizations and trade unions, local authorities and members of parliament will work with the government starting this week to put forward concrete proposals. The Prime Minister will convene them in the coming days. I want to be absolutely clear. When it comes to rioters and anyone engaging in violence, we will show no tolerance. Listening and dialogue do not mean weakness or impunity. My fellow citizens, we are now six months away from our presidential election. Six months. And so all those who are telling you today that the urgent priority is to get to the streets, demonstrate and create disorder, have an objective to damage the Republic and hijack the political debate. The choices we will have to make about our future in six months are essential. France is a great democratic power. It deserves a proper debate. That debate must take place at public meetings. It must take place through political parties, not through violence in the streets. It must take place in newspapers, on television programs, and at peaceful gatherings where people can speak and explain their positions respectfully, not through disorder and destruction. Our country deserves a presidential election worthy of its democracy in six months. The outcome is also being shaped now through a spirit of responsibility. Yes to dialogue, yes to concrete short-term solutions, and to preparing the decisions of the future, but always no to violence, whatever form it takes. We need unity, calm and respect. Long live the Republic and long live France.