10/19/2026 – 10:16Protesters block access to the Louvre in Paris Student protesters blocked access to the Louvre museum to express their support for the schoolchildren’s demonstrations and denounce “police repression”, AFP learned from the museum’s management and two unions. “We are proud to announce that we have blocked the largest museum in the world,” proclaimed a leaflet displayed in front of the Louvre, which was unable to open its doors to the Louvre. public. 10/19/2026 – 10:13Macron continues with his trip to the Gulf despite the crisis at home The French president began a three-day trip to the Gulf with a visit to Kuwait, before planned stops in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Qatar. In his address to the nation on Sunday, Macron confirmed that he would go ahead with the planned trip despite the crisis at home. “I have taken a number of initiatives at the international level to ensure that we have fuel and gas and I will continue to do so. We visit the Gulf countries to ensure our supply,” he stated. Macron is received by the Emir of Kuwait, Sheikh Mishal Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah. Credit: Benoît Tessier, Reuters 10/19/2026 – 10:04 French Prime Minister Lecornu will speak after the crisis cabinet meeting The Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu will make a televised statement after holding talks on the crisis with cabinet members in about an hour. You can watch his speech live on FRANCE 24. 10/19/2026 – 09:58’More than 2,000′ companies damaged by Looting The president of the French Chambers of Commerce and Industry estimates that more than 2,000 companies have been directly affected by the looting and riots at the end of the year. week, estimating the damage at “hundreds of millions of euros.” At 8 p.m. on Sunday, “we had an initial count of 1,500 (companies affected), but taking into account that some cities had not been included in the count (…), the figure will be at least 10 to 20 percent higher,” Alain Di Crescenzo told RTL radio. Emma Da Silva, APF, told RTL radio on Sunday. night in at least four cities in France”, namely “Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Nantes”, he added, “so we will exceed 2,000 – it is almost certain – with damage worth hundreds of millions of euros.” “form of insurrection” and condemned crime “fueled by drug trafficking.” “We must have the humility to recognize that what happened on Saturday is something new,” with a combination of marches that turn violent, “looting” and “guerrilla-style urban planning. violence.” When asked if “a strip of criminals from the suburbs” had “looted part of France”, the Minister responded that “there is a small part of our popular neighborhoods that harbors a form of crime fueled, in particular, by drug traffickers.” 10/19/2026 – 08:49Security shortcomings in dealing with ‘far-left’ protesters, says Justice Minister This weekend’s riots in France highlighted flaws in the security services in how they deal with threats posed by far-left protesters, says Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin.Darmanin said the security services were very good at dealing with threats from terrorists and organized crime groups, but not so good regarding these ultra-left groups “It is clear that the ultra-left is not being fought effectively,” Darmanin told France 2 TV. 10/19/2026 – 08:31More than 30,000 looters in Marseille at the height of the riots More than 30,000 looters were counted on Saturday at the height of the riots in the streets of Marseille, according to a police report. Among them 8,000 “rioters,” the report adds, noting that 99 people were detained by police in direct relation to the riots. riots in Marseille. Manon Cruz, Reuters More than 800 police and other security forces were deployed and some 4,000 tear gas grenades were fired. A total of 118 members of the security forces were injured, three of whom were taken to hospital. 10/19/2026 – 07:59Interior Minister Admits Police ‘Lost Control’ of Protests Embattled French Interior Minister Laurent Núñez has acknowledged responsibility for security failures that sparked riots and looters in Paris and other French cities over the weekend. “I offered to resign because I am entirely responsible for what happened,” Núñez told France Inter radio, accepting a “lack of anticipation” and preparation for the challenges facing the security forces. The Minister said a further 350 people had been arrested overnight across France, again pointing the finger at “ultra-left” groups he blamed for the violence. 10/19/2026 – 07:31Politicians trade blame for violence ahead of 2027 elections Political leaders have traded accusations over the weekend of violence ahead of next spring’s presidential election. Far-right leader and presidential favorite Marine Le Pen criticized Macron’s centrist government as “exhausted, disoriented and seemingly incapable of doing anything other than comment on its own helplessness” in a video posted on social media. Far-left contender Jean-Luc Mélenchon accused Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu of “playing with fire,” claiming that “by betting on degradation, he has only managed to unite all young people and workers’ unions.” Lecornu and other government officials have blamed Mélenchon’s France Insoumise (LFI) party for instigating the unrest, which several analysts have described as a gift to Le Pen’s far-right. 10/19/2026 – 07:10Macron rejects the resignation of the Minister of the Interior and demands new police methods The French president criticized the “failures” that, he said, caused violent protests that shook the country, but rejected the resignation of the Minister of the Interior, Laurent Núñez, due to the crisis. “The Minister of the Interior presented his resignation to the president on Sunday,” the Elysee Palace said in a statement. “Given the need for continued law enforcement leadership at this time, the president declined.” Macron had asked Núñez to “take all necessary measures to ensure transparency about the failures in planning and intelligence that led to the violence” and “establish new operational methods for security forces” to handle the crisis, the statement said. 10/19/2026 – 07:09More than 2,400 people arrested after violence mars protests Authorities estimated Saturday’s largely peaceful marches had a turnout of around 550,000, while organizers put it at 800,000. The protesters responded to calls from a union, student organizations and activists hoping to revive the “yellow vest” movement, which emerged in 2018 to protest injustice. Mass protests in France are often marred by violence on the sidelines of peaceful marches, leading to clashes with police. The number of arrests reported on Saturday approached the nearly 2,000 recorded nationwide during a single day of yellow vest protests in December 2018. 10/19/2026 – 07:03Macron condemns those ‘who sought to bring down the Republic’ “The damage caused, and those who sought to bring down the Republic, will be held accountable,” Macron said in a televised address to the nation on Sunday night. He denounced the “unbridled violence” by “insurrectionary elements of extreme left-wing radical groups, joined by numerous criminals.” He said he had instructed prefects to work with mayors to protect public buildings and businesses in the coming weeks, including banning protests where necessary. 10/19/2026 – 07:01Welcome to our live blog French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday expressed the public’s “anger” and “shame” over rioting and looting during national protests against rising costs of living and poor conditions in schools. At least 2,400 people were arrested. Macron echoed other government officials in blaming much of the violence on far-left activists, accusing them of attacking police and public buildings to foment chaos.
