Macron blames social media for violence... “It’s damaging our democracy.”

(London = Yonhap News) Correspondent Kim Ji-yeon = On the 26th (local time), French President Emmanuel Macron blamed social media (SNS) for the recent large-scale protests that took place across France and spread into violence.

According to AFP and Reuters, President Macron visited Marseille and told reporters that it was "not normal" for such unrest to occur half a year before the presidential election. In Marseille, on the 17th, protests against the poor educational environment and expensive prices escalated into violence, including the occupation of the city hall and the destruction of a bust of Marianne, a symbol of France.

“Social media undermines our democracy,” Macron said, “because it polarizes, desensitizes us to violent scenes and becomes a tool for fueling some of our worst impulses.”

President Macron emphasized, “We will not continue to back down,” adding, “We will look at legitimate demands, order will be maintained, and if we do our job properly, this situation will subside.”

In France, student protests against poor educational conditions began last month and spread nationwide, and nationwide protests are continuing, joined by movements to protest lack of investment in the public sector and rising prices. Some protesters committed violent acts, setting fire to and damaging public facilities, and many took advantage of the chaos to loot stores.

President Macron warned that there was "a risk" that chaos would arise in the third large-scale weekend protest scheduled for the 31st. He added that a national emergency declaration would not be impossible if necessary, but was not necessary at this time.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez reported on the 24th that 1,435 people were arrested in protests across the country.

The government has been criticizing far-left forces for inciting violent protests. However, Minister Núñez said that the protests showed a new phenomenon, with far-right organizations confronting far-left forces in several cities.

“In a number of cities, such as Nice and Montpellier, these groups arrived in an organized form and mainly targeted the extreme left,” Núñez said.

President Macron also said that the government will announce measures to meet the needs of students within the day.

He explained, “We have asked the government to review the legitimate demands at the root of these protests,” and added, “The prime minister and ministers will announce important and concrete measures this afternoon.”

Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu and ministers and deputy ministers are scheduled to meet with high school and college student representatives this afternoon and then hold a press conference.

French local media reported that the government is expected to change Parcoursup, the national online university admissions platform. This platform has been criticized by students for its unclear selection criteria, unfair opportunities, and blocking students from the academic opportunities they want.

Students have also demanded increased manpower to replace teacher vacancies, renovation of school facilities, changes in teaching hours, and reduction of the number of students per class.

On the 8th, the government announced a plan to increase the number of substitute teachers by 3,000, but student groups say it is not enough.