Alarmingly, the civil strife witnessed at the weekend may only be a foretaste of what is to come.” or join the discussion in the comments now After weeks of protests and a weekend of riots in which a town hall was set ablaze, 2,000-plus shops were looted, 2,300 people were arrested and 1,000 police injured, the repercussions for France – for its society and its economy – continue.
The financial situation remains constrained, leaving no funds available to ease the cost of living squeeze that brought 550,000 people onto the streets on Saturday. In an increasingly febrile atmosphere, France is heading towards a seismic reckoning in May.
The violent protests unnerved investors and triggered a debt sell-off, pushing French borrowing costs higher than those of Greece. Allegations of police brutality also surfaced amid the mounting turmoil.
France is facing widespread social and economic repercussions following weeks of protests and a weekend of riots marked by extensive property damage and violence.
If the financial situation worsens and the campaign turns on who can save the economy, candidates who are firm on security and more orthodox on fiscal policy may gain the advantage over rivals.
During the weekend unrest, a town hall was set ablaze, more than 2,000 shops were looted, 2,300 people were arrested, and 1,000 police officers were injured. Civil strife witnessed at the weekend may only be a foretaste of what is to come, according to reports.
Its budget deficit, at 5.1%, is also among the highest in the EU.
Allegations of police brutality surfaced, and the violent protests unnerved investors, resulting in a debt sell-off, with borrowing costs rising higher than for Greece.