The French President denounced “seditious acts” of extreme left-wing groups, accusing them of wanting “to overthrow the Republic”, after violence and pillage in demonstrations against the cost of living.
© Lusa
22/10/2026
by
Lusa
O French President denounced today “seditious acts” of “extreme left” groups, accusing them of wanting to “bring down the Republic”, after acts of violence and pillage committed on the margins of Saturday’s demonstrations against the cost of living.
“ We have seen political and even seditious acts, carried out by organized groups of extreme lefts aimed at overthrowing the Republic,” said Emmanuel Macron, at the end of a meeting at the Palace of the Elisha, the seat of the French Presidency, with the heads of information services, accused of having misinformed the mobilization, six months from the presidential elections.
“ This is what these extreme left-wing groups take on with extreme danger very strong violence and planning. Alongside that, there were acts of delinquency, before which we also have to act with the greatest firmness, but which are of a different nature”, he stressed.
“ There were several thousand arrests for questioning and several hundred people were imprisoned. The work will continue [...], but the Minister of Justice rightly asked for the greatest severity to the Public Prosecutor ", said Macron.
Macron also confirmed what the police authorities had already announced, the restrictions on demonstrations in the coming days to restore order following the riots last Saturday and revealed the summoning of a Defense Council for Friday, with the aim of adopting additional security measures.
The French President explained that mayors may prohibit concentrations that are not convened by trade union organisations where there is a risk of disturbance of public order, while authorized trade union demonstrations may take place, but by alternative routes, to protect commercial establishments and public buildings.
A second day of protest against the cost of living is scheduled for Saturday throughout France. For this new mobilization, the security forces’ device will be “20% higher” than last week, today the minister delegate to the Ministry of Interior, Jean-Didier Berger, announced.
On Saturday, only the demonstrations organized by the unions will be allowed, warned Macron.
On the other hand, the Prime Minister, Sébastien Lecornu, has planned to meet on Monday with “organisations of secondary and higher education students, teachers, trade union and employers, local authorities and deputies, so that dialogue and work can continue around legitimate requests and claims”, Macron announced.
Justice continues to investigate the events of October 17, with thousands of people arrested and hundreds of people imprisoned, according to Macron, who ensured that investigations will continue to clarify the identity of those involved and the degree of participation of each one.
“ Further research is ongoing on the most sophisticated actions that have been carried out,” he added.
The objective is also to ensure that “dialogue and work continue around legitimate demands and claims, in particular those of young people”.
France will reinforce by 20% the device of the security forces in various cities for the day of demonstrations on Saturday, in the face of the riots and acts of vandalism of Saturday, announced today the official authorities.
The device will include military reinforcements from the Sentinelle force, elite police and gendarmerie units, helicopters and armored vehicles.
The military will be in charge of the protection of public buildings, such as the National Assembly, Senate and seat of the Government, as well as of tourist sites in Paris, including the Champs Elysées, releasing police officers for other tasks.
The device will also have elite units of the National Police and the Gendarmerie.