Macron makes a surprise visit to Marseille after the Oct 17 looting

The French president met mayor Benoît Payan at city hall, where protesters had broken the bust of Marianne, then police officers and shopkeepers at the prefecture.

Macron acknowledged that authorities had “not at all anticipated” the Oct 17 mobilization. He said it was “not comparable” with the urban riots of summer 2023, but a social and political movement rooted in student protests and the cost of living.

Café manager's estimate of lost revenue

30 % loss in revenue

Shopkeepers say repeated Saturday protests are hurting business. One café manager estimated a 30 per cent loss in revenue.

What's next

Macron said Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu and his ministers would bring “very concrete answers” after meeting high-school student unions on Monday afternoon.