France again: What happened on the weekend

France again: What happened on the weekend – and what happens next? Burning cars, masked faces, looted shops, and street fights with the police: France has been in a state of exception since last weekend. Violence and vandalism overshadowed the predominantly peaceful mass demonstrations against the high cost of living and the shortcomings in schools. According to the government, over 1,200 people were arrested and 150 police officers were injured. In Paris alone, more than 850 people were reportedly arrested. In Marseille, demonstrators stormed the city hall. According to media reports, they called for it in reference to the French Revolution of 1789: "It is revolution! We are storming the Bastille!" Throughout the country, hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets on Saturday. Cities like Paris, Lyon, and Marseille experienced chaos and devastation. The historic city hall in Limoges completely burned down. Who is protesting in France? In contrast to the "Yellow Vest" protests, which emerged relatively spontaneously in November 2018 and could be attributed to a clear group, no single, clearly organized movement is currently recognizable. The call was spread mainly through social media and unites different groups under the motto "Convergence of Wrongs" – the "confluence of anger." On Saturday, the Yellow Vests, trade unions, students, farmers, and other organizations called for a protest day against the high cost of living and shortcomings in the education system. Their demands include investment in education and health, affordable housing, and stronger action for climate protection. Around 550,000 people are said to have participated in the demonstrations across France. While Saturday initially proceeded mostly calmly, violence increased during the afternoon. According to media reports, young people in Paris shot at the police with fireworks. Consequently, the officers deployed tear gas. In the evening, there were looting of shops by masked people and property damage. Political Blame The Interior Ministry states that there was strong mobilization of the far-right in the protests, whose goal was to create unrest. In the disturbances, targeted violent assaults by masked persons who had joined so-called "Black Blocks" reportedly took place, according to ARD. While the government holds the left-wing party La France insoumise (LFI) partly responsible, this party criticizes the government and the police. The right-nationalist Rassemblement National (RN) and its presidential candidate Marine Le Pen blame LFI for the current disturbances, according to SRF. The protests – whether peaceful or not – will keep France occupied for longer. Even for the coming weekend, the Yellow Vests are calling for further protests, and trade unions are calling for a demonstration on November 5th. In response to the events, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez offered his resignation. President Emmanuel Macron rejected the offer in order to maintain the chain of command within the police and security forces. The danger of protests is also seen in Austria in short. Protests in France are also a topic there: former Chancellor Sebastian Kurz spoke via Instagram. In his assessment, similar scenarios could also occur in the capital. "Burning city halls, looted shops, and brutal violence in France and elsewhere in Europe. What is called a 'student protest' increasingly resembles scenes of civil war. Arab countries warned us almost a decade ago. Now that is exactly what has happened," writes Kurz. The perpetrators are also named by the former politician in his post: "Behind the mob is a sinister alliance of the far-left extremists and political Islam. Both are enemies of the Enlightenment and our free and open society." Kurz sees shortcomings in the "failed migration policy". "Hungary was criticized for years – today Budapest, Warsaw, and Prague are islands of calm. If we do not make a course change immediately, we will soon experience the same scenes in Berlin, Vienna, and Munich," Kurz states.