French President Emmanuel Macron has made a surprise visit to Marseille on Monday to address security concerns and economic challenges following recent unrest across France.
The visit, first reported by French television broadcasters TF1 and LCI, comes as the country remains in shock from urban violence on Saturday, October 17, and mourns a terror attack in Trappes on Friday, October 23.
During his time in the southern port city, the head of state is visiting Marseille City Hall and meeting local shopkeepers who were victimised by looters and rioters. The Élysée Palace told Agence France-Presse that Macron will also greet and thank internal security forces who restored republican order.
Damage at Marseille City Hall
Aides to the president told AFP that the trip was directly motivated by Marseille being the place where the October 17 disturbances began. Protesters broke into the city hall during that night of unrest and smashed a bust of Marianne, the traditional sculpture that represents the French Republic in civic buildings across the nation.
Officials close to the president said the visit was intended to show that the French state is present, holding firm, and determined to carry out its protective mission. Macron will also dedicate part of the trip to reviewing the local economic and social climate.
Hundreds of local businesses were vandalised or ransacked during the October 17 violence. The scale of the property damage left shopkeepers across Marseille struggling with severe financial fallout, leading to Monday's meetings between business owners and the head of state.
Political backlash over security response
The violence and its aftermath have triggered heavy criticism for the government and the outgoing head of state, who is set to step down in the spring. Opposition parties and prominent figures within the president's own political camp have condemned the handling of the disorder on October 17 as a major failure.
Benoît Payan, the mayor of Marseille, strongly criticised the lack of anticipation and resources deployed during what he described as a dark day for the city. Payan argued that national authorities left local businesses exposed to hundreds of attacks.
Macron has also faced mounting scrutiny following the October 23 attack in Trappes, situated in the Yvelines department west of Paris. The president sparked controversy after delivering a statement about that attack that critics across the political spectrum condemned as politically problematic, deepening the challenges surrounding his final months in power.
