France Stunned by October 17 Rioting • FRANCE 24 English

Oct 19, 2026 | France didn’t just erupt on Saturday, it exploded. Police doubly overwhelmed by the turnout of the big October 17th cost of living demonstrations and-a-half times the crowds they expected. Also overwhelmed by determined flashmobs, some radical militants hellbent on a fight, others who came for the looting. The whole world watching the assault on symbols like the Republic like the 19th Century city hall in Limoges, the usually quiet porcelain capital of France. There's anger over rioting, and over growing inequality six months out from a presidential election where the extreme right and left lead all comers. What response? How does Emmanuel Macron’s minority lame duck government with no money in the state coffers to throw at the problem, restore faith in leadership, institutions including the police and democracy? What message to the youth that sparked the movement to draw attention deteriorating conditions in their schools? How to offer hope to the next generation?