Hugo Gurdon on France unrest: Extreme leftists co-opted school protests to ‘bring down Western society’

As of October 25, 2026, France has seen significant unrest with hundreds of thousands participating in demonstrations that have frequently turned violent over recent weeks. On October 17, an estimated 500,000 protesters took to the streets, leading to widespread rioting and looting in Paris, Marseille, Lyon, and other cities, which prompted French President Emmanuel Macron to pledge stricter measures against "illegitimate" protests. The government deployed a massive security presence for subsequent demonstrations on October 24, involving around 110,000 people near Paris, with minimal violence compared to earlier protests.

The unrest stems from high living costs and poor school conditions, drawing students and trade unions into the fray. However, far-left groups like Antifa have been blamed by authorities for escalating the situation through violent confrontations with police. This has fueled right-wing narratives both in France and internationally, with some suggesting these protests aim to destabilize Western society.

Despite largely peaceful outcomes on October 24, concerns remain about further unrest as the government maintains a vigilant security presence amid warnings from Interior Minister Laurent Nunez that the situation remains a "threat." Recent opinion polls indicate growing support for both far-right and far-left political figures ahead of April’s presidential election.