Shopkeepers confront looters during protests in France, Italy

Videos of shopkeepers and store employees confronting looters during protests in France and Italy have gone viral on social media. However, available opinion polls suggest that public support for the protesters and their core demands remains strong.
The protests began peacefully against rising living costs, inflation and problems in the education sector. In France, hundreds of thousands of people joined demonstrations, but some masked groups attacked police, vandalised public buildings and looted shops. Similar violence was reported in Milan, where rioters smashed storefronts and targeted businesses.
In the French city of Nice, a video game store employee confronted looters trying to enter his shop and was kicked in the back. In Paris, a female shop owner pushed back looters with an iron bar. Similar incidents were reported in Saint-Etienne and Mulhouse. In Milan, a man confronted looters outside a store with a stick.
French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said police were not prepared for the scale of the riots and offered his resignation, which President Emmanuel Macron refused to accept. More than 2,400 people were arrested during the unrest, while hundreds of shops were looted or damaged.
No major opinion poll has yet been conducted after the latest looting. However, an Elabe poll conducted on October 8 found that 55 per cent of French people supported student protests, while more than 70 per cent considered their demands justified.
Analysts say the looting and vandalism reflect public anger over deepening inequality and the rising cost of living. According to Oxfam, the wealth of billionaires has reached a record $18.3 trillion, an 81 per cent increase since 2020. In France, 53 billionaires hold more wealth than 32 million people.