Protests in France bring more than 500,000 to the streets and leave 1 dead, 500 police officers injured and 1,800 arrested

France woke up this Sunday (18) counting the damage from one of the most violent waves of protests in recent years in the country.

Demonstrations against inflation and cuts to public services left one dead, more than 500 police officers injured and almost 1,800 detained on Saturday (17).

According to the Ministry of the Interior, more than 500,000 people took to the streets in dozens of cities. The acts mark the union of a student movement that has lasted a month with the general dissatisfaction of the population against the increase in the cost of living.

Although hundreds of thousands of people protested peacefully, radical groups clashed with security forces.

The protests began last month, motivated by the conditions of schools and the lack of teachers in peripheral neighborhoods. In recent weeks, the movement has expanded to an agenda against inequality and public spending cuts.

The death, recorded in Paris, was due to a heart attack.

A major cleaning operation began this Sunday in cities from the north to the south of the country, such as Lille, Marseille, Strasbourg and Bordeaux.

In the latter, a masked group invaded the residence of the local government representative, and Mayor Thomas Cazenave reported that around 100 stores were looted.

In Limoges, teams were assessing damage to the city's town hall, a 143-year-old historic building that was partially destroyed by arson.

The fire started after a municipal police car was set on fire in front of city hall. The roof collapsed over the lower floors, with the exception of the west wing.

In Paris, broken windows, burned bicycles and graffiti marked the post-protest scene.

The escalation of violence increased pressure on the government. On social media, President Emmanuel Macron declared that there is "no room for violence in the Republic".

"Those who vandalized, attacked city halls and businesses, and even looted our public buildings, will be prosecuted and punished," Macron wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Macron will make a statement to the nation this Sunday night (18).

Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said the government will not be "intimidated" and blamed the "extreme left" and common criminals for the unrest, at a time of tension ahead of next year's presidential elections.

In the economic area, Minister Roland Lescure promised support to traders who suffered losses and assured that the vandals "will pay and repair the damage". In Marseille, Mayor Benoit Payan announced emergency financial aid for affected businesses.

On the same day, demonstrations against the cost of living and housing prices took place in other European countries, including Portugal, Italy, Belgium and Spain.