European leaders have condemned the violence and pledged action against those responsible for attacks and disorder…reports Asian Lite News Desk
Authorities in the southern French city of Marseille have banned all gatherings and demonstrations from noon to 8 pm on Monday following violence during protests across France over the weekend.
The police prefecture of Bouches-du-Rhône announced the restriction in a post on X, covering the entire city during the specified hours.
The move comes after French President Emmanuel Macron vowed legal action against those responsible for violence, destruction and looting during nationwide demonstrations on Saturday.
Tens of thousands of people took to the streets across major European cities over the weekend, protesting against rising living costs, housing shortages and pressure on public services, Xinhua news agency reported.
From violent clashes in France and Italy to large rallies in Portugal and Belgium, the protests highlighted growing public frustration over economic pressures and social inequalities across the continent.
Macron said on Saturday that violence would not be tolerated in France and warned that those involved in attacks and destruction would face prosecution.
“Those who have engaged in destruction, attacked government offices and businesses, and even looted our town halls, will be prosecuted and punished,” he said on X.
Nationwide demonstrations in France attracted around 550,000 participants, according to the report. Farmers, trade unions, climate activists and students joined the protests, demanding relief from high fuel prices, inflation and cuts to public services.
The demonstrations were followed by violent clashes between protesters and security personnel. According to France’s Interior Ministry, 997 police officers and gendarmes were injured, seven of them seriously, while 2,397 people were arrested nationwide.
Unrest also spread to Italy, where protests against the rising cost of living took place in several cities.
In Milan, hundreds of black-clad demonstrators gathered around Piazza del Duomo and threw firecrackers and bottles at police, according to the report. At least four officers and 20 protesters were injured, while around 50 demonstrators were detained, Italian news agency ANSA reported.
In Brussels, the Belgian capital, clashes broke out between police and protesters as students and their supporters demonstrated against education reforms and rising costs.
Portugal also witnessed large rallies on Saturday, with tens of thousands of people taking to the streets in Lisbon, Porto, Coimbra and other cities to demand affordable housing and measures to tackle the rising cost of living.
In Lisbon, demonstrators pitched dozens of tents in the city’s central square and carried banners calling for laws to “ban vulture real estate funds”, accusing such funds of fuelling property speculation.
Protesters also chanted “Down with speculation” and “We want housing and jobs”, according to the report.
European leaders have condemned the violence and pledged action against those responsible for attacks and disorder.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said peaceful demonstrations were a democratic right but condemned the use of protests to cause destruction and attack security personnel.
“Demonstrating is a right. Setting our cities ablaze is not,” she said on social media.
Meloni also called for a united response to violence, arguing that demonstrations should not be used to create chaos or threaten public safety.
The ban in Marseille marks a further response by French authorities as officials seek to contain unrest following the weekend’s demonstrations. The restrictions apply to all gatherings and demonstrations across the city between noon and 8 pm on Monday.
