It started as a peaceful protest about the price of your weekly shop. It ended with 2,400 arrests, looted shops, and a government in crisis talks.

France is waking up to a political hangover this Monday.

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu called an emergency Cabinet meeting after the weekend's cost-of-living protests spiralled into violence and looting across the country.

The numbers are stark. More than half a million people took to the streets nationwide on Saturday. Police say they were completely overwhelmed and lost control, with over 2,400 arrests in a single day.

President Emmanuel Macron struck a tough but balanced tone. He vowed justice for the rioters, saying:

"Those who have destroyed must pay; those who have looted must reimburse."

But he was also careful to separate the troublemakers from ordinary families who are genuinely struggling, admitting that many protesters have "legitimate demands" about bills, rent and food prices.

This isn't just about politics in Paris. It's about people. Young families, students and pensioners who told cbinews.tv they simply can't make ends meet as inflation bites. France has the highest public spending in Europe, but wages aren't keeping up.

And France knows this story well. From the Yellow Vests in 2018 to the pension reform riots in 2023, protest is woven into French democracy. What makes this different is the sheer scale and how quickly it turned ugly.

The unrest didn't stop on Saturday. On Sunday, hundreds gathered again at Place de la République in Paris. Tear gas was fired, five local shops were looted, and another 350 people were arrested.

The fallout is now hitting the top. Interior Minister Nunez admitted his department underestimated the crowds and even offered his resignation. Macron refused to accept it, for now.

The government is now in damage-control mode. Lecornu has promised to bring students, teachers, unions, employers and local leaders around the table this week to hammer out "concrete proposals."

The big question: Can talk calm the streets? Or will this be another long, hot winter of discontent for France?

We’ll keep you across it on cbinews.tv.

#FranceProtests #CostOfLivingCrisis # Macron #Paris #FrenchPolitics #CBINews #BreakingNews #EuropeNews