Reader Q&A: What’s next for France after a weekend of riots? Ask our Europe columnists
The Guardian hosts a Q&A with its Europe columnists to discuss the aftermath of severe riots and protests across France. Topics include the economic fallout, rising national debt, and the political implications for the upcoming presidential election.
Why it matters
France's escalating civil unrest and financial instability threaten the stability of the eurozone and could significantly impact the upcoming presidential election, potentially boosting far-right candidates like Marine Le Pen.
The Hôtel de Ville in Limoges, central France, on fire during a weekend of unrest./Getty Images 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. 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. All of this ahead of a hotly contested presidential election that’s now just six months away.
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