Protesters clash with police in front of Fouquet's brasserie. Photo: EPA
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https://scmp.com/news/world/europe/article/3002113/french-government-under-fire-after-80-stores-vandalised-paris Europe
French government under fire after 80 shops vandalised in Paris riot
- Police seemed overrun as rioters and protesters filled the Champs-Elysees on Saturday, the 18th week of ‘yellow vest’ protests
- President Macron promised to come up with strong measures to prevent further violence
Firefighters extinguish a blaze in a Longchamp shop in Paris. Photo: EPA
The French government has admitted its security measures were “insufficient” to stem an arson and looting rampage by black-clad anarchists during a “yellow vest” protest along the Champs-Elysees in Paris on Saturday.
President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday he is considering banning demonstrations on the famous road.
He summoned a meeting with the interior and justice ministers on Monday and promised to take “strong measures” as soon as possible to prevent more riots this weekend.
Police appeared overwhelmed on Saturday as demonstrators ran amok on the avenue, with retailers there saying some 80 shops and businesses were vandalised.
Junior Interior Minister Laurent Nunez told RTL radio on Monday police had prepared for an upsurge in violence but were “less reactive” than at previous demonstrations. He said they were careful about using rubber ball weapons because of injuries they had caused.
Workers check the damage to Fouquet's brasserie. Photo: EPA
More than 200 people were arrested, including 15 youths under 18.
While there was unrest on the Champs-Elysees and in a few neighbouring streets, the rest of Paris was unaffected.
Shop owners were dismayed about the 18th consecutive weekend of anti-government rallies.
“It feels like this will never end,” said Emir Fatnassi whose shop front on the Champs-Elysees was smashed in by rioters. “You can protest but why destroy everything?”
Protesters and looters exit the Bulgari shop on the Champs Elysees during the clashes in Paris. Photo: EPA
“There’s been a surge of violence,” said Jean-Noel Reinhardt, head of the Committee Champs-Elysees, a local association with 180 members. “The authorities must put an end to this situation.”
Chaos broke out on Saturday when groups of so-called black bloc protesters swarmed the Champs-Elysees, vandalising and later setting fire to Fouquet’s brasserie, a favourite hang-out of the rich and famous for the past century – as well as luxury handbag shop Longchamp.
Graffiti on the facade of a Cartier store reads: ‘No mercy for bourgeois’. Photo: AFP
Clothing outlets were also damaged, as well as a bank, a chocolate shop and news stands.
Police used tear gas, stun grenades and water cannon to repel protesters who gathered at the foot of the Arc de Triomphe war memorial.
But for seven hours, they were pelted with paving stones.
“Yellow vest” representatives on Sunday called on Interior Minister Christophe Castaner to quit over the government’s failure to contain the black bloc. They accuse the anarchists of hijacking the peaceful weekly protests.
A protester carries a broken mannequin. Photo: EPA
Socialist mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo said she was waiting for “an explanation” from the government, declaring herself “really angry” at the “unprecedented violence”.
“We should be able to master a situation like the one we have just witnessed,” she told Le Parisien newspaper.
Damaged windows of shops on the Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris. Photo: AFP
Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire was to host a meeting with trade and employers groups as well as insurers to discuss the economic impact of the protests, his office said.
Last month, Le Maire estimated the economic impact would slice 0.2 percentage points off France’s economic growth.
On Tuesday, Le Maire and Castaner will face questioning from two French Senate committees over Saturday’s events.
Back in November, Macron was caught off guard when grass roots protesters began occupying traffic roundabouts over fuel taxes he insisted were needed to help the environment. He has loosened the state’s purse strings to the tune of €10 billion (US$11.2 billion) to try to defuse the rallies.
Workers check a damaged Hugo Boss store. Photo: EPA
But the measures failed to quell the anger of the demonstrators, who accuse the former investment banker of being elitist and favouring the rich.
Far-right leader Marine Le Pen accused the government of shutting down far-right pressure groups while failing to deal with the ultra-left.
The US president, Donald Trump, seized on the Champs-Elysees violence to attack France on Twitter, and repeat his contempt for claims about climate change.
How is the Paris Environmental Accord working out for France? After 18 weeks of rioting by the Yellow Vest Protesters, I guess not so well! In the meantime, the United States has gone to the top of all lists on the Environment.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 16, 2019
Additional reporting by The Guardian, Reuters, Associated Press