Weekend riots across major French cities, including Paris, Marseille and Bordeaux, caused an estimated several hundred million dollars in damage and theft and led to some 2,400 arrests; Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez offered his resignation. The unrest follows weeks of student protests over crumbling schools, teacher shortages and poor job prospects, which have led to more than 6,000 arrests. President Macron and Prime Minister Lecornu condemned the violence while blaming political rivals, as far-right leader Marine Le Pen, who leads the polls ahead of next spring's presidential election, pushes migration into the debate. Economically, government debt rose to 119% of GDP in the second quarter, the 10-year bond yield hit 4.9%, and 85% of respondents in an Ipsos-BVA poll said France is in decline.
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EUR/USD
• NeutralRelevance: low
| Market | Currencies |
|---|---|
| Close on 10/19/2026 | 1.12125 |
| Change that session | -0.24% |
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