France riots damage town halls as budget deficit exceeds 5 percent

Rioters in Limoges set fire to the town hall, destroying its iconic tower, while protesters in Marseille broke into and vandalized the city hall. The Louvre museum in Paris closed on Monday due to a student social movement, a disruption that highlights the chaos spreading across French cities. Videos circulating online show young men shouting at a policewoman they chased and threw to the ground in Paris, while trashing property and assaulting people on the streets.

The unrest was initiated by high-schoolers angry about class sizes, dilapidated schools, and access to college. Retirees joined the protests, stating that state pensions are not enough to live on. All groups complain about the high cost of living and demand more state spending to address their issues. The violence has escalated beyond what was previously tacitly tolerated, with "Casseurs," or breakers, and looters participating in the destruction. Many of these individuals appear to be of migrant background, and some carry Palestinian flags or flags from North African countries.

Marseille's mayor, Benoit Payan, blamed the French government for failing to protect city hall and local stores. He demanded that Paris pay for all the damage, a stance that places the burden on the French taxpayer. Rue Paradis in Marseille, which houses high-end jewelry and fashion stores as well as mom-and-pop shops, saw dozens of businesses looted. Metal shutters designed to prevent break-ins were torn off or broken.

President Emmanuel Macron condemned the violence in a speech on Sunday but remained absent as the unrest unfolded. He flew to the Gulf region on Tuesday, sticking to his schedule despite mounting political pressure. Macron is in the last year of his two terms and cannot run again. France holds presidential elections next April, with Marine Le Pen of the right-wing National Rally and Jean-Luc Melenchon of the left-wing France Unbowed as leading contenders. Le Pen promises to lower migration and limit welfare payments to migrants, while Melenchon welcomes mass migration and opposes any reduction in benefits.

France has not balanced a budget in 50 years, and this year's deficit is over 5 percent. Economic growth is under 1 percent, and diesel costs about $10 a gallon. The national debt stands at 120 percent of GDP, causing nervousness in the bond market. The country's fertility rate is below replacement level, while it has accepted large numbers of arrivals from former colonies. These newcomers and their offspring generally have lower employment rates than native-born citizens yet access identical social services.

Law enforcement resources are strained by the scale of the riots. The national police handle cities, while gendarmes enforce law in the countryside, with both funded centrally by the state. Municipal police are not equipped or trained for riot control. France has specialized riot-control units, but their numbers are limited. The French military is not used for internal operations.