Macron accuses foreign leaders of exploiting French riots for political gain

Violence erupted in Marseille and other French cities as President Emmanuel Macron accused foreign leaders of exploiting the riots that began on Saturday for electoral gain. Speaking during a visit to the Middle East, Macron stated that these leaders were campaigning for upcoming elections "at France's expense" with their comments regarding the unrest, which stemmed from cost-of-living protests.

While he did not name specific individuals, Macron's remarks seemed directed at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is facing parliamentary elections next week, and US President Donald Trump, whose mid-term elections are scheduled for next month. Macron claimed that these leaders had been swayed by misleading AI-generated videos about the riots.

Since the riots began, nearly 150 people have been jailed, and over 800 have been brought before the courts. The violence, which affected cities including Paris, Lyon, Marseille, and Nice, was characterized by running battles between masked rioters and police, alongside widespread property destruction and looting. The government acknowledged that police had "lost control" during the chaos, which followed weeks of protests by students over high school conditions.