Limoges Mayor Criticizes Government Response Amid Riots
The mayor of Limoges, a city in France that has largely been quiet, has accused Emmanuel Macron’s government of failing to equip the police properly. This criticism came after rioters overran City Hall and set the historic building on fire.
Guillaume Guérin, the mayor from the centre-right Républicains party, told BFMTV that approximately 700 rioters, described as “ultra-left” Black Bloc members, joined a protest of around 5,000 people intent on causing destruction and chaos.
He highlighted the level of premeditation involved in the attack, mentioning that the rioters arrived with a battering ram weighing over 200 kilograms (440lbs) to break open the doors of City Hall. The fire that engulfed the structure started in the basement, spreading through vents that Guérin claimed had been identified beforehand as part of the arson plan.
“The logistics and organization behind yesterday’s attack on City Hall are absolutely intolerable,” he expressed, adding that such violence against authority is deeply upsetting.
While strongly blaming the far-left activists, Guérin also pointed the finger at the national government. He described a “colossal failure” by state services and the national police leadership.
Referring to the events on Saturday, the mayor noted that around 3:30 PM, the police, having run out of ammunition, began retreating along the boulevards, which led to them being overwhelmed by rioters. The City Hall, at that moment, was only protected by municipal police, who he felt were ill-equipped to handle the situation.
“The municipal police lack the necessary resources to confront hundreds of determined rioters, some of whom seemed unaware of the damage being caused. For an entire hour, there wasn’t a single national police officer at City Hall,” he said.
Guérin indicated that the information regarding the police’s ammunition shortage came from officers present during the riots as well as various directors within the national police and intelligence services.
“It’s 2026 in France—a nation that aims to be interventionist globally yet lacks the means to adequately arm its police. It’s disgraceful. I’m absolutely appalled,” he lamented.
He further expressed his concern for the people of Limoges and the wider French population, emphasizing that without significant policy changes, the situation would worsen.
Guérin has called on the national government to invest in rebuilding the 143-year-old City Hall, likening it to the efforts that went into restoring Notre Dame in Paris. He suggested this reconstruction could symbolize a nation that refuses to be defeated or intimidated.
In addition to criticizing the state for its lack of readiness, Guérin held the far-left La France Insoumise (France in Rebellion/LFI), led by Jean-Luc Mélenchon, accountable for the unrest that sparked the riots.
He suggested that the rioters were primarily motivated by particular political rhetoric from certain presidential candidates.
On Tuesday, local reports indicated that a man was arrested in Val-d’Issoire, known to be a far-left activist and placed on the government’s national security watch list. The Anti-Terrorist Sub-Directorate has taken over the investigation.
