Yesterday, hundreds of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in France in protests. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez admitted to some 550,000 protesters, while France’s CGT claimed 800,000. While the official figure was said to be 110,000 in Paris, a larger figure was estimated by organizers. The spiraling cost of living, along with the government’s incapacity and/or unwillingness to address the matter, has driven the demonstrations to new heights.

There has been a breakout of rioting on the fringes of the demonstrations, which, up to now have been largely peaceful. Government buildings have been attacked and looting of small businesses has occurred. Synarcho-anarchist forces have deployed, including the French version of the “black bloc” groups first seen in (West) Germany in the 1980s, now visible in Great Britain and other nations. The most shocking destruction, complete with “Reichstag fire” photo-op, occurred in Limoges, where provocateurs broke into the historic town hall, which was set ablaze. The collapse of the clock tower elicited horrified groans from onlookers.