France’s leaders vow to restore order after weekend of violent riots across the country

Updated on: October 19, 2026 / 9:43 AM EDT / CBS News

Paris — French officials were considering declaring a state of emergency and implementing local curfews Monday as the nation reeled from a weekend of violence. Widespread anti-government protests in many large cities descended into riots, with damage to historic properties and thousands of arrests.

In hard-hit Marseille, France's second-largest city, all large gatherings were banned Monday in the wake of the violence, which started weeks ago as protests by young people furious over the state of their schools, but quickly snowballed into national demonstrations over the rising cost of living and declining public services.

The 19th-century town hall in the city of Limoges was burned to the ground on Saturday by masked rioters who hijacked marches across France, looting stores, torching cars and buildings and clashing with police as the protests turned violent.

Nearly 2,500 people have been arrested, France's Interior Ministry said Saturday.

In an address Sunday evening, French President Emmanuel Macron, vowed that "those who sought to bring down the republic will be held accountable."

Speaking Monday, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu blamed at least some of the violence on "an ultra-left movement intent on orchestrating profound…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/entertainment/