Riyadh 17:18London 14:18New York 10:18Tokyo 23:18
Monday, 26 October 2026AboutAdvertiseContact

Macron says France can maintain order without emergency measures

The French president rules out a state of emergency for now but leaves the option open if the situation worsens.

Ornate golden gate with french flags on building
Illustrative image. Photo: Nathan Cima on Unsplash

At a glance

  • Macron said a state of emergency is not currently necessary to maintain public order
  • He indicated the measure could be considered if the situation deteriorates
  • The president promised concrete measures to address high school students' demands
  • Student protests have triggered weeks of nationwide unrest

President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that France can preserve public order without declaring a state of emergency, though he indicated the measure remained available if circumstances deteriorated. During a visit to Marseille, Macron stated the option was not "off-limits or taboo" should conditions worsen.

Macron pledged to introduce "concrete" measures addressing demands raised by high school students whose protests have sparked weeks of unrest across the country.

Why it matters

France has experienced sustained civil unrest linked to student protests, prompting discussion of emergency powers as authorities assess how to respond.

Original reporting

This brief was written with AI assistance from the reports listed above and checked against our editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.