French President Emmanuel Macron has been criticized for a “feeling of detachment” in his latest speech, as France experiences an escalation of protests related to rising living costs and young people’s fears about their future, reports France 24 on October 19, 2026.
Chris Reynolds, professor of French and European studies at Nottingham Trent University, points out that the speech offers few answers to the structural grievances fueling the protests. He warns that the violence overshadowing the legitimate demands of peaceful demonstrators risks reducing public sympathy and altering political debate ahead of the presidential election.
The current social movement, according to Reynolds, recalls historical episodes of protest in France, such as May 1968 and the Yellow Vest movement, highlighting the country’s deep tradition of social unrest.