· Politics & Society · Richard Jenkins

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France Needs a Call for Calm, Not Scapegoats

In his address on 18 October, President Emmanuel Macron condemned looting and attacks on public buildings, then attributed the violence to “insurrectionist elements” from the ultra-left, joined by criminals. The damage and the fear are real. But the political identity and organisation of those responsible must be established through evidence, not assumed in advance.

On 19 October, Paris prosecutor Laure Beccuau said she could not confirm that those responsible for the violence in Paris were politically aligned with the ultra-left. Mediapart also reported that a police intelligence commissioner said he had been instructed to present La France insoumise as being behind the movement; the Interior Ministry denied issuing such instructions. This does not prove that no ultra-left activists took part. It does mean that the government’s broad political explanation should not be treated as a settled fact. Those who committed offences should be identified and held individually responsible.

Understanding is not excusing

Macron said that nothing justifies, explains or excuses the violence. Nothing justifies putting people in danger or destroying their livelihoods. But explaining is not excusing: understanding why people are angry is part of addressing the conditions that keep producing anger. The president himself acknowledged concerns about the cost of living, education and young people’s future. Those concerns deserve more than a brief recognition before the debate returns to blame.

France is not divided into two kinds of young people

Peaceful protest is a democratic right; looting is a crime. The two should not be bundled together. Hundreds of thousands marched peacefully, while some people attacked buildings and shops. Young people are not one bloc, and they cannot be sorted into a tidy contrast between those who sing in the choir and those who raid shops. We should listen to people’s different concerns without excusing violence or treating a whole generation as suspect.

Political leaders should also avoid forcing the country to choose between “the Republic” and “the rioters” as though everyone who criticises the government or marches in the street belongs in the second camp. We can defend public safety, the right to demonstrate, and accountability for the government’s decisions at the same time. The rules for authorising and policing demonstrations should be transparent and applied consistently, whatever the political movement involved.

Protect people, shops and livelihoods

Looting must stop. Shop owners have worked for years to build their businesses, and many are already struggling after a hard year. For many, November and December are crucial trading months. Repairing a shop and restocking it, only to fear another night of destruction, can put a lifetime’s work at risk. The people who loot and destroy must be held responsible, and businesses need practical protection and support.

Reports of serious injuries from police weapons also require independent investigation. A professional police force must operate under clear rules, and any unlawful use of force must bring strict disciplinary consequences. Public trust depends on the same principle applying to everyone: establish the facts, protect those at risk, and hold individuals accountable.

France needs calm, restraint and a serious effort to address the problems people are trying to raise. Curfews and blanket restrictions should not become a substitute for listening. We will not find solutions to the urgent problems facing our country and continent by turning neighbours into enemies or blaming scapegoats. We must reject looting and political division together, then work together on what comes next.

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