France has been gripped by a wave of mass protests that have escalated into violent clashes with police, attacks on public buildings, smashed storefronts and widespread looting. The unrest has been particularly severe in Paris, where the situation is gradually calming after dramatic scenes of violence. According to currently available information, no citizens from Republika Srpska, Serbia or BiH have been reported among those arrested or injured.
The demonstrations, initially sparked by dissatisfaction with conditions in the education system, have developed into a broader wave of public anger over deteriorating public services, high taxes and the government’s spending priorities.
The seriousness of the situation was particularly evident in Paris, where residents avoided going outside or entering areas affected by clashes during the most turbulent hours.
According to information available to the Republika Srpska Representative Office in France, no reports had been received of citizens from Republika Srpska, Serbia or BiH being among those detained or injured at the time of publication.
Paris gradually returning to normal after violent unrest
Bojana Kondić Panić, Head of the Republika Srpska Representative Office in France, told Glas Srpske that the situation was gradually stabilizing, although the future course of the protests remained difficult to predict.
“Street cleaning and repairs are underway following fires, smashed shop windows and looting. Nevertheless, what happened was truly frightening,” Kondić Panić said.
“Footage published by the media showed that in certain parts of the city it was not even safe to go outside and that the violence had reached an extremely serious level.”
She noted that during her five years living in France, she had never witnessed demonstrations escalate to such an extent, particularly involving attacks on public institutions.
“In the past, we did not see protesters storming municipal buildings and setting fire to structures of cultural and historical significance. In Limoges, the town hall was set on fire, while other cities recorded intrusions into public institutions and destruction of property,” she explained.
“It is particularly distressing to see buildings that form part of these cities’ historical heritage burning.”
The unrest also reached some of Paris’s most famous locations, with luxury boutiques, shops and other commercial premises targeted.
“Even places where such protests were previously uncommon, such as the areas around the Louvre and Place de la Concorde, were affected. Around the Arc de Triomphe and the Champs-Élysées, shop windows were smashed and stores were looted,” Kondić Panić said.
“People stayed inside their apartments and avoided going out because moving through the streets had become extremely difficult and unsafe.”
Education crisis sparks wider social dissatisfaction
According to Kondić Panić, the first protests emerged within the education sector before spreading to broader economic and social issues.
“The protests had been discussed for about a month. Dissatisfaction initially emerged among teachers and other education employees who were drawing attention to poor conditions in schools,” she explained.
“Students, particularly those attending secondary schools, subsequently joined the demonstrations because of teacher shortages and inadequate conditions for teaching and learning.”
She said that classes had been suspended at some schools, while students arriving for lessons were unable to enter the buildings.
“In some schools, students have been without regular classes for weeks. They arrive at school but cannot enter because the entrances are blocked with garbage bins and other objects,” she said.
“They are highlighting shortages of teachers, desks and chairs, as well as poor educational conditions. The situation is particularly difficult in certain suburbs and economically disadvantaged urban areas.”
Although education was the immediate trigger, Kondić Panić believes the demonstrations reflect much deeper dissatisfaction with the country’s political leadership and the quality of public services.
“All of this is generating enormous frustration. People believe they pay high taxes but do not receive adequate services in return, whether in education or healthcare,” she said.
“France has also faced growing public debt in recent years, and citizens are increasingly questioning the priorities of government policy and how public money is being spent.”
Political divisions deepen as protesters question government priorities
The demonstrations have also taken on a political dimension.
According to Kondić Panić, some left-wing political groups support the protests, while right-wing parties are using the unrest to highlight what they regard as weaknesses in the current government and its inability to respond effectively to violence.
Public dissatisfaction is also linked to debates over government spending priorities, including the financial assistance France has provided to Ukraine in recent years while domestic public services continue to face serious difficulties.
These concerns have intensified broader political divisions at a time when the French government is facing growing pressure over economic conditions and public finances.
No reported incidents involving Serbs in France
France is home to a substantial community of people of Serbian origin, including citizens from Serbia, Republika Srpska and other parts of BiH.
Kondić Panić said the Representative Office was closely following developments and monitoring information concerning their safety.
“There are many of our people here, particularly those from Serbia, but also from Republika Srpska and BiH,” she said.
“According to the information currently available to me, there have been no reports of incidents in which they were endangered.”
She nevertheless urged caution and emphasized the importance of following official safety information.
“In circumstances like these, it is important to monitor official announcements and avoid areas where demonstrations are taking place or where there is a risk of further clashes,” Kondić Panić warned.
Police report more than 150 officers injured
The unrest has also raised serious concerns about the conduct of security forces and the scale of violence directed against police officers.
France’s police oversight authority is investigating at least 20 complaints of police violence.
Among those injured was a teenager who reportedly lost a hand following the explosion of a stun grenade.
According to French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, more than 150 police officers were injured during the unrest, while official figures for injured demonstrators had not been released.
The UNSA police union warned that law enforcement personnel were approaching the limits of their endurance.
“In every corner of France, our colleagues are being used as punching bags. They are being pelted with stones, injured and drawn into real ambushes. This cannot continue indefinitely,” the union stated.
Yellow Vests return to the streets of Paris
The Yellow Vests, a movement that became one of the defining protest movements of Emmanuel Macron’s presidency, have also reappeared on the streets of Paris.
According to available estimates cited in the report, the number of demonstrators exceeded the largest gatherings organized by the Yellow Vest movement but remained below the turnout recorded during the 2023 protests against pension reform.
As Macron approaches the final stage of his presidential term, he faces growing economic dissatisfaction, deepening political divisions and increasing costs associated with servicing France’s public debt.
Protests spread across Europe
Public anger over rising living costs has also extended beyond France.
Demonstrations have taken place in Belgium, Portugal and Italy, where police reportedly used tear gas in Milan and water cannons in Bologna.
Meanwhile, protests have continued in Albania, with demonstrators demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama.
The developments reflect wider dissatisfaction across several European countries over living costs, government policies and the quality of public services.
Source: Glas Srpske
