<p>French president has compounded impression of arrogance with strategic errors – and consequences could be profound</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/oct/19/europe-france-protests-riots-macron-ukraine-russia-zelenskyy-sweden-latest-news-updates">Europe live – latest updates</a></p></li></ul><p>The near-universal chorus of condemnation that greeted Emmanuel Macron’s address to the nation on Sunday, after one of the most violent days of rioting and looting in France’s recent history, was a stark reflection of just how weakened he now is.</p><p>Speaking from his office at the Élysée Palace, the president delivered an eight-minute speech expressing “anger and shame” after a weekend in which a town hall was set ablaze, 2,000-plus shops were looted, 2,300 people were arrested and 1,000 police injured.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/19/emmanuel-macron-criticism-isolation-france">Continue reading...</a>
World
Ferocious criticism from all sides underlines Macron’s isolation
<p>French president has compounded impression of arrogance with strategic errors – and consequences could be profound</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2026/oct/19/europe-france-protests-riots-macron-ukraine-russia-zelenskyy-sweden-latest-news-updates">Europe live – latest updates</a></p></li></ul><p>The near-universal chorus of condemnation that greeted Emmanuel Macron’s address to the nation on Sunday, after one of the most violent days of rioting and looting in France’s recent history, was a stark reflection of just how weakened he now is.</p><p>Speaking from his office at the Élysée Palace, the president delivered an eight-minute speech expressing “anger and shame” after a weekend in which a town hall was set ablaze, 2,000-plus shops were looted, 2,300 people were arrested and 1,000 police injured.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/oct/19/emmanuel-macron-criticism-isolation-france">Continue reading...</a>