France and Albania Face Violent Anti-Government Riots
French and Albanian leaders struggle to contain violent nationwide protests driven by living costs, corruption, and poor education conditions across Europe.
Nationwide unrest in France and Albania has escalated into violent clashes, looting, and arson, reflecting a broader wave of instability across Europe. In France, protests over living costs and school conditions led to the detention of over 2,500 people and injuries to approximately 1,000 police officers. Masked groups ransacked up to 3,000 businesses and destroyed the 19th-century town hall in Limoges. Emmanuel Macron rejected the resignation of Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, who admitted police lost control in several cities, and instead granted mayors and prefects additional powers to ban gatherings. To address fuel prices, Macron traveled to the Gulf to secure diesel deliveries from Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu convened an emergency cabinet session and implemented targeted curfews in Paris, Marseille, Bordeaux, Nice, Lyon, and Lille to restore order. While Lecornu noted these measures contributed to a calmer night, curfews in Bordeaux and Nice are expected to remain for several days. Finance Minister Roland Lescure pledged support for business owners affected by the violence.
In Albania, Prime Minister Edi Rama has faced seven days of violent protests in Tirana, where students attacked government buildings and police stations. Rama refused to resign or negotiate, characterizing the unrest as a coordinated attack by foreign forces. Similar protests over housing and inequality have spread to Italy and Portugal, with violent clashes reported in Milan and tent encampments established in Lisbon.
