{
  "id": 15915423,
  "title": "France's Macron calls for order, says foreign criticism of unrest 'stupid'",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/frances-macron-calls-for-order-says-foreign-criticism-of-unrest-stupid",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-21T17:04:51.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Jerusalem Post",
    "slug": "jerusalem-post",
    "url": "https://www.jpost.com/international/article-912444"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "President Emmanuel Macron pledged on Wednesday to avert a recurrence of the recent violent protests and labeled as \"stupid\" and \"unacceptable\" comments from certain foreign leaders regarding the disorder. France's principal student federation, UNEF, has scheduled additional demonstrations for Saturday, while the Yellow Vest faction, a prominent anti-establishment force since 2018, has also mapped out a march in central Paris on the same day. Despite attempts to mitigate social unrest, the situation appears no closer to resolution, as unions intend to launch a nationwide strike on November 5 to protest soaring living expenses and cuts to public services following inconclusive government negotiations. France witnessed some of the most intense urban unrest in years on October 17, during nearby nationwide demonstrations, causing nationwide shock due to its magnitude and the apparent ineffectiveness of police in controlling it. Macron assured reporters in Qatar, where he is pursuing energy agreements while dealing with escalating fuel prices, that those intending to instigate disorder in city centers on Saturday will be thwarted. He also blamed some foreign leaders for disseminating misinformation about the events, with US President Donald Trump erroneously attributing the unrest to immigrants and radical Islam without substantiating his claims, and alleging the disturbances serve as a warning for Americans. Macron remarked that various foreign politicians were capitalizing on the situation politically. The potential impact on investor confidence is evident, as French government debt obligations have surged this week, with 10-year bond yields reaching a 23-year high of 5%, the highest since July 2002. Analysts attribute the rise to apprehensions that the turmoil could hinder government attempts to rectify strained public finances amid already substantial budgetary pressures. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu attempted to quell the crisis by meeting with union representatives, but no progress was discernible, with labor groups asserting that they had not received any tangible response to their wage and public service demands. Sophie Binet, head of the left-wing CGT union, declared that no consideration had been given to their requests and that it was time to escalate the mobilization to the following level, forecasting a nationwide strike next month. The protests mirror a broader malaise in France, where escalating energy expenses, mounting household burdens, and concerns over the state of public services have instilled a pervasive sense of discontent among workers and youth. A second consecutive night of curfews in areas affected by the unrest on October 17 yielded no major incidents, offering some relief to the government as it readies for forthcoming demonstrations. Government officials have assured a significantly bolstered security operation for Saturday, acknowledging shortcomings in their initial response, with troops and extra police anticipated to be mobilized. Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin reported that 2,500 individuals were detained following the October 17 protests, with 917 suspects facing prosecution and 174 already incarcerated. The unrest has engendered a political backlash ahead of the presidential elections next year, with candidates from the far-right and hard-left garnering strong support in polls. The government has been criticized for losing control, according to far-right leader Marine Le Pen on Franceinfo radio. The hard-left France Unbowed (LFI) condemned the deployment of troops in Paris, arguing that demonstrators are not enemies within and that the French government must not wage war against its own people. Protests in other European nations have further raised concerns that anger over living standards could spread at a time when many countries are grappling with fiscal challenges. In Greece, thousands of students and teachers took to the streets on Wednesday, demanding increased state funding for education, improved facilities, and fewer crowded classrooms, echoing the protests in other European countries. Meanwhile, Italy adopted a series of security measures on Tuesday, including a new offense for violent participation in demonstrations and harsher penalties for rioters in response to the disturbances the previous weekend.",
  "summary": "US President Donald Trump has blamed immigrants and radical Islam, without providing evidence, and said the turbulence was a warning for Americans.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Euronews",
        "title": "Macron calls for extreme caution in Gulf, secures critical gas deal in Qatar state visit",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/macron-calls-for-extreme-caution-in-gulf-secures-critical-gas-deal-in",
        "published": "2026-10-21T14:31:04.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "France's Macron vows order, calls foreign criticism of unrest 'stupid'",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/frances-macron-vows-order-calls-foreign-criticism-of-unrest-stupid",
        "published": "2026-10-21T16:07:02.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}