France was rocked by hundreds of thousands of people protesting on Saturday as furious demonstrators called for major reform.
Some of the peaceful marches descended into riots, with looting and arson erupting at the sidelines.
Approximately 1,200 people were arrested as tensions worsened throughout the day, and several areas across France are now expected to be hit with curfews to try and control the violence.
It’s an alarming turn of events and some of the worst civil unrest seen in the neighbouring country since the gilets jaunes (yellow jackets) movement in 2018, where protesters pushed back on petrol taxes.
Reform UK’s Treasury spokesperson Robert Jenrick has claimed the UK will soon experience something similar unless the government takes action.
Here’s a look at exactly what’s happened, why the demonstrations began, and what might happen next.
What Happened In France Over The Weekend?
The main march of the day was peaceful in Paris, even as an estimated 550,000 people took to the streets.
But as the day went on, tensions worsened as riots began across the country.
Prime minister Sebastien Lecornu said 150 police officers were injured, and at least 1,200 people were arrested.
More than 350 of those arrests happened in Paris alone.
Police used tear gas and water cannons to try and control the crowds though protesters turned to arson and looting.
France’s interior ministry said there had been “targeted acts of violence” from “hooded individuals” as scenes of chaos unfolded across France.
Even iconic buildings like Lyon’s tourist office were set on fire. According to local police, “hostile individuals” stopped firefights from reaching the flames.
The head of France’s Chambers of Commerce and Industry said 2,000 businesses were impacted by the demonstrations.
Why Are The Protests Happening?
Frustration over the education system in France has been building since September.
Students aged between 15 and 18 year olds began taking to the streets over staff shortages and a lack of resources after anger built online.
Pupils have grown furious over crowded classrooms, impractical timetables, long days and teacher absences.
According to The Times, the average student in France has around 1,008 hours of lessons a year – compared to 640 for the average UK student.
Though the French system is not by any means underfunded – the sector received 4.5% of GDP in 2023 – students feel they are not getting value for money.
The students were soon backed up by trade union members.
Then, on October 17, the gilets jaunes called to restart their protests against the petrol taxes and the high cost of living.
The reasons behind the protests soon morphed into general anger about the lacklustre economy and the struggling welfare state.
Unleaded petrol is now at €2.20 (£1.85) a litre right now while diesel is at €2.30 (£1.94) a litre, but ministers say the country is in too much debt to reduce fuel duties.
Sophie Pedder, Paris bureau chief for the Economist, told the BBC are three different types of protests: the peaceful protesters, the organised hooligans and looters – but noted it is “difficult to distinguish” who is behind the outrage.
ARUALLAN via Hans Lucas/AFP via Getty Images
There’s another, political, element to these protests, too, as presidential elections are around the corner in France.
Centrist president Emmanuel Macron is set to leave office in April 2027, after two five-year terms in office.
The far-right National Rally’s candidate, Marine Le Pen, is expected to fight it out against hard-left La France Insoumise’s Jean-Luc Melenchon.
It means French politics hangs in the balance right now, and the election is expected to have a major impact on the country’s general direction.
Melenchon even joined the demonstrations – while condemning the looting and arson – and accused police officers of “unleashing” on protesters.
Meanwhile, centrist prime minister Lecornu – who blames the “extreme-left” – said such comments were “dangerous and cynical”, warning that officers had faced “violence of extreme intensity”.
He warned some groups were using the riots as a “warm-up” for presidential elections, adding: “No one will impose their political agenda through violence”.
Le Pen said “legitimate demands” shared by protesters had been “held hostage by the far left”.
How Has The French Government Responded?
The French interior minister Laurent Nunez said police had “lost control” and there had been a “lack of anticipation” from officers.
But his offer to resign over the protests was rejected by French president Emmanuel Macron.
Macron has condemned the violence, noting: “Those who have broken, attacked the prefectures as well as businesses, looted even our town halls, will be prosecuted and punished.”
Lecornu has implemented a “number of partial curfews” in certain “localised urban areas” to contain further outbreaks of violence.
He also said the government could implement a state of emergency if necessary, though that is not currently being considered.
He also said there will be a “strong” response from the country’s judiciary as it tries to reduce the violence and crime around the protests.
Investigators are looking through social media footage to find the culprits.
The government previously tried to negotiate with the protesters. France’s Education minister Edouard Geffray offered an 3,000 extra supply teachers on October 8, but it had no impact on the demonstrations.
The government has also scrapped plans to increase some university registration fees, and there will be some petrol subsidies for certain industries.
Are There Any Similarities In The UK?
The UK has experienced some frustrations here in recent years over immigration and growing fears over the economy.
Riots broke out in August 2025 after false claims spread online suggesting the person behind the Southport stabbings was a recent asylum seeker.
There are also a million young people not in work, education or training, and major concerns about the education system more broadly.
Brits are equally worried about the lack of economic growth and how to fund the welfare state.
There have also been protests in Spain and Portugal over the state of schools and the cost of living.
Reform UK’s Treasury spokesperson Robert Jenrick wrote on Instagram: “France is on fire. This fate awaits us too, if we don’t wake up quickly. Mass migration, multiculturalism and self-loathing is destroying Europe.
“It will destroy Britain too. We have one chance to save our country.”
But history shows Brits have a strong aversion to revolution, unlike the French.
After the asylum hotel demonstrations last year, polling from Looking for Growth and Merlin Strategy found only 21% thought political violence is acceptable, while 70% feared the potential for political violence.
UK prime minister Andy Burnham has tried to “put growth in every postcode” since getting into office in July.
His small but significant efforts to curb the cost of living, like capping bus fares at £2, appear to have cut through to the general public, as Labour have enjoyed a bounce in the polls since he got into office.
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