France brings in partial unemployment aid for looted shops
At least 3,000 shops were vandalised in weekend riots, prompting relief funds, curfews and over 2,400 arrests nationwide.
At least 3,000 shops were vandalised or looted in riots across France over the weekend of 17-18 October, Le Progrès reported, citing police figures. The government is introducing partial unemployment support and a dedicated relief fund for affected traders from Tuesday, while police said more than 2,400 people have been arrested nationwide and authorities have brought in localised curfews in Paris and other cities, the Daily Mirror reported.
In Paris's 11th arrondissement, near Place de la République, nearly half the shops on boulevard Voltaire were vandalised or looted, Le Progrès reported. At the Manga Story store, where looters sprayed an anti-police slogan on the door, the financial damage was estimated at about 600,000 euros, the paper said.
"We were abandoned by the state," said Samuel, an employee at the nearby Sat Elite video games shop, who said staff, the manager and customers had organised rounds to guard the premises since the looting. He said hundreds, possibly thousands, of people took part over several hours and that he saw no police during that time, Le Progrès reported.
Interior minister Laurent Nuñez acknowledged on Saturday "a lack of anticipation" in deploying police, saying forces had been under-resourced against the rioters and looters, Le Progrès reported. President Emmanuel Macron refused Nuñez's resignation on Sunday. Some shopkeepers decided to arm themselves with baseball bats and tear gas to protect their businesses, though Le Progrès said this was limited to isolated cases.
Police are using security-camera footage to try to identify looters and vandals, Sud Ouest reported. Mathieu Raël, a regional delegate of the retailers' association Un1té Paris, said shopkeepers, artisans and restaurant owners were the real victims of the unrest, in comments to a BFMTV forum. Insurers are now assessing the damage, and legal action against the state is being considered by some affected businesses, Le Progrès reported.
Separately, El Salvador's president, Nayib Bukele, posted on social media suggesting France adopt his own hardline security policies to tackle the unrest, 20 Minutes reported.
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What we know
- At least 3,000 shops were vandalised or looted in riots across France on 17-18 October, Le Progrès reported.
- Nearly half the shops on Paris's boulevard Voltaire were damaged or looted; the Manga Story shop alone reported about 600,000 euros in losses.
- France is introducing partial unemployment support and a relief fund for affected traders from Tuesday, and has imposed localised curfews after more than 2,400 arrests nationwide.
- Interior minister Laurent Nuñez admitted "a lack of anticipation" in policing the unrest; Macron refused his resignation.
- Insurers are assessing the damage and some shopkeepers are considering legal action against the state, Le Progrès reported.
Why it matters for Europe
The unrest has rattled financial markets already worried about France's budget problems. The CAC40 share index fell 1.1% on Monday, with banking, retail and tourism stocks among the hardest hit, La Libre reported, as the gap between French and German 10-year borrowing costs widened to 4.88%. Credit rating agency Moody's is due to review France's sovereign rating on Friday, which already carries a negative outlook, the paper said.
Sources
Reported by 13 reports from 13 independent outlets in 6 countries.
- La Dépêche du Midi: Violences du 17 octobre : qu'est-ce que la CRS 8, cette unité de police spécialisée dans les violences urbaines ?
- Libération: Couvre-feux localisés, fonds de soutien aux commerçants, chômage partiel… Ce qu’il faut retenir des annonces du gouvernement après le 17 octobre
- 20 Minutes: Violences du 17 octobre : Quand le président du Salvador Nayib Bukele donne des leçons de sécurité à la France
- La Libre: Économie essoufflée, dette non maîtrisée, chaos social et instabilité politique : le quadruple péril français qui effraie les marchés
- Le Progrès: Paris. « Nous avons été abandonnés par l’État » : les commerçants pillés le 17 octobre tentent de se relever
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Questions and answers
- How many shops were affected in the riots?
- At least 3,000 shops across France were vandalised or looted over the weekend of 17-18 October, Le Progrès reported.
- What support has the French government announced?
- Partial unemployment measures and a dedicated relief fund for affected traders from Tuesday, alongside localised curfews, according to announcements reported by Libération and the Daily Mirror.
- How has the unrest affected financial markets?
- France's CAC40 index fell 1.1% on Monday and French borrowing costs rose, as investors grew wary of political and social instability, La Libre reported.
This article was written with AI assistance from 14 verified reports and checked under the ECTV editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.