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Friday 23 October 2026
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Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said European politicians blaming Russia for their internal problems showed "the level of madness". Italy's defence minister has spoken of a "hybrid war", while President Emmanuel Macron said there was no evidence of foreign interference in the events themselves.
After a security council on Thursday, President Emmanuel Macron said only union-organised demonstrations would be authorised on Saturday, and marches in Lyon and Marseille were banned. Left-wing parties said they left a meeting with Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu angry, while the right called for a state of emergency. Unions have called strikes for 5 November.
The French presidency said the commitments, added to deliveries from Saudi Arabia, bring France to 295,000 tonnes a month, just over 10% of its consumption. The fuel is to travel overland via Oman, bypassing the Strait of Hormuz.
After an interministerial crisis meeting on Monday, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced partial, localised curfews, which authorities then imposed in parts of Paris and other cities, a "massive judicial operation" and full short-time-work cover for looted shops. President Emmanuel Macron refused Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez's offer to resign.
Paris police reported 108 arrests on Sunday and more shops looted, including the BHV Marais department store. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu chairs a crisis meeting on Monday as President Emmanuel Macron begins a three-day Gulf tour.
Greens, La France Insoumise and National Rally figures said Laurent Nuñez should quit after Saturday's violence. Opposition and union leaders criticised President Macron's televised address.
Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said France condemns rioting at home while criticising other governments for suppressing protests. She also rejected suggestions of Russian involvement in unrest in EU countries.
In a televised address, President Emmanuel Macron said "nothing justifies" the violence and promised "full transparency" over the police response. The Interior Ministry says 2,397 people were arrested and 997 police and gendarmes injured on Saturday.
