The political scientist predicted the response of the French authorities to the riots

Associate Professor of the Department of European Studies at St. Petersburg State University, Leading expert at the Institute of Military World Economy and Strategy (IMVES) HSE Alexey Chikhachev expressed the opinion that the French authorities may adjust the budget amid the protests, but are unlikely to carry out serious reforms.

In conversation with Lenta.Ru On Monday, October 19, the political scientist noted that France may slightly increase funding for education, but the authorities still face a choice between solving economic problems and maintaining high social spending.

"The French social model is plunging into a deep crisis and ceases to adequately match the country's economic capabilities," the expert concluded.

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The British newspaper The Telegraph reported on October 19 that the unrest in France indicates a deep political crisis of the country's president Emmanuel Macron. The publication called what was happening the death throes of macronism.

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecorny announced on the same day that a curfew would be imposed in France due to mass riots. According to him, the decision is due to "a very specific type of large-scale looting," writes NSN. Also on October 19, the French authorities imposed a ban on gatherings and demonstrations in Marseille. This decision was made due to the tense situation. It arose after the riots that took place on October 17, according to 360.ru .

On the same day, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the unrest in Europe a big crisis, Moscow 24 writes. According to him, the riots that have engulfed the largest cities of France have spread to Italy and are beginning to affect other countries, the website says. kp.ru . He stressed that the situation actually borders on chaos, but it remains an internal matter of these states, writes RT.

Mass protests in France began in September with performances by schoolchildren dissatisfied with the lack of teachers, the workload and the state of schools. By October 17, the actions covered several cities and gathered up to 500 thousand participants. The demonstrations were accompanied by clashes with police and pogroms. More than 1,8 thousand people were detained, over 500 police officers were injured, IA Regnum reminds.