Nationwide protests and rioting erupt across France over cost of living and school conditions, prompting curfews and a planned police surge

Protests that began in October 2026 over crumbling schools, teacher shortages and the rising cost of living escalated into widespread rioting in Paris, Marseille, Bordeaux, Limoges and other cities over the weekend of October 17-18, 2026. French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu told parliament the government would deploy a "massive" security presence the following Saturday and accused far-left and ultra-left groups of an "insurrectionary plan." Authorities reported roughly 2,400 arrests and about 1,000 injured police and gendarmes, imposed curfews in parts of Paris, and estimated insured losses approaching or exceeding €1 billion.