Paris, October 19 (IANS): French authorities have banned all gatherings and demonstrations in the southern city of Marseille from noon to 8 pm local time (1800 GMT) on Monday, as President Emmanuel Macron vowed legal action against those responsible for violence during weekend protests that swept across Europe.
The police prefecture of Bouches-du-Rhone announced the ban in a post on X. The restrictions come after tens of thousands of people flooded streets across major European cities over the weekend, venting anger over surging living costs, housing shortages and strained public services, according to Xinhua news agency.
From violent clashes in France and Italy to widespread rallies in Portugal, the wave of unrest underscores a deepening socio-economic divide and growing public frustration across the continent.
Macron said on Saturday that there is no place for violence in France. “Those who have engaged in destruction, attacked government offices and businesses, and even looted our town halls, will be prosecuted and punished,” he wrote on X.
In France, nationwide demonstrations drew some 550,000 participants, uniting farmers, trade unions, climate activists and students demanding relief from high fuel prices, inflation and public service cuts. The gatherings rapidly descended into violent clashes. According to the French Interior Ministry, 997 police officers and gendarmes were injured, seven of them seriously, while 2,397 people were arrested nationwide.
Protests against the rising cost of living also swept northern Italy. In Milan, hundreds of black-clad demonstrators besieged Piazza del Duomo, throwing firecrackers and bottles at police. At least four officers and 20 protesters were injured, and about 50 demonstrators were detained, according to Italian news agency ANSA.
Clashes also broke out in Brussels, where students and their supporters protested education reforms and rising costs.
In Portugal, tens of thousands demonstrated in Lisbon, Porto, Coimbra and other cities on Saturday to demand affordable housing and action to curb living costs. Protesters pitched dozens of tents in Lisbon’s central square and carried banners calling for laws to “ban vulture real estate funds,” which they accused of fueling property speculation, while chanting “Down with speculation” and “We want housing and jobs.”
Several European leaders condemned the violence and vowed action against rioters. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni wrote on social media: “Demonstrating is a right. Setting our cities ablaze is not.”
Calling the demonstrators thugs who exploited protests to sow chaos, attack those tasked with keeping people safe and hold entire cities hostage, she said: “Faced with scenes like these, the rejection must be unanimous. Any reticence amounts to justification. Silence is unacceptable.”
Original Source: https://www.morungexpress.com/france-violence-all-gatherings-demonstrations-banned-in-marseille
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Publish Date: 2026-10-19 17:34:00
