Macron’s Wife’s Chocolate Factory Scandal Fuels French Unrest
According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, a report by the French newspaper Le Figaro, as published by the Mehr News Agency, revealed that the deployment of a large contingent of French police, including six patrol cars, to guard a chocolate workshop belonging to the family of Brigitte Macron, wife of the French President, in the city of Amiens has sparked a wave of public outrage and severe criticism. This deployment occurred concurrently with ongoing riots and looting across the country.
The report highlighted that while numerous commercial, private, and public establishments have been targeted and looted as a result of widespread popular protests, the extensive police presence from October 17th, at the peak of the escalating riots, has become a new source of criticism against President Macron. The National Police Union sharply criticized President Macron’s actions, stating, “While shops are being looted, police officers are injured, and police stations are understaffed, a significant portion of police forces have been deployed in front of a chocolate workshop owned by the family of the French President. Is this the equal security all French citizens are entitled to?” the union questioned in a statement published on its website.
Nicolas Dupont-Aignan, a candidate in the 2027 French presidential election and leader of the “France Arise” party, echoed the public’s anger, asserting that other business owners in France are being held hostage by looters. Earlier, Radio RMC reported that some small and medium-sized business owners in France have equipped themselves with defensive gear, intending to protect their commercial premises from vandalism due to the authorities’ inability to restore order.
Authorities in France have extended nighttime curfews in parts of Paris and Lyon following the extensive unrest of recent days. Paris police stated that enforcing the curfew in two areas of the city, around the Place de la République and the L’Allie commercial zone, has helped maintain order overnight, and these restrictions will continue as long as necessary. In Lyon, nighttime curfews were extended from 9 PM to 6 AM in the city center. In Marseille, nighttime movement restrictions for unaccompanied minors were implemented starting Tuesday night.
Sébastien Lecornu, the French Prime Minister, announced in the National Assembly that security forces will be deployed on a large scale for Saturday’s protests, stating that security measures to control gatherings will be increased without specifying troop numbers. Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin also announced that military personnel involved in the “Sentinelle” anti-terrorism operation will take responsibility for protecting sensitive sites, allowing police and gendarmerie to allocate more forces to crowd control and riot response.
