Jordan Bardella has demanded a halt to immigration in France as riots and looting continue to sweep the country.
The National Rally president accused those behind the destruction of hating the nation that welcomed their families.
It came as Reform UK leader Nigel Farage warned that the carnage could be “our future” unless Britain wakes up.
Bardella condemned what he called a “deadly convergence between ultra-left rioters and predators from the suburbs” as shops were ransacked and public buildings torched across France.
He said: “A very large proportion of the looters are people from immigrant backgrounds who do not feel French.”
He accused them of expressing “hatred” towards “a country that, very often, welcomed their parents and showed great generosity towards their own families”.
US President Donald Trump also pointed to the role that uncontrolled immigration has played in the disorder, accusing “immigrants with hatred in their hearts” of making France ungovernable.
Meanwhile Farage issued a stark warning for Britain. He said: “If we don’t wake up, the carnage in France is our future.” The Reform UK leader called for a return to law, order and secure borders.
Reform UK Shadow Chancellor Robert Jenrick also warned: “Mass migration and soft-touch law and order destroys countries. Macron has chosen to ignore this obvious fact. We can either do the same and face a similar fate, or fight to save Britain.”
Jenrick warned that Britain was heading for the same disaster: “France is on fire. This fate awaits us too, if we don’t wake up quickly. Mass migration, multiculturalism and self-loathing is destroying Europe. It will destroy Britain too. We have one chance to save our country.”
Almost 2,400 people were arrested across France over the weekend, with footage showing masked looters carrying away televisions and stealing motorbikes.
The government said that at least 3,000 businesses had been attacked, and that damage was estimated at hundreds of millions of euros.
Interior minister Laurent Nunez admitted police had “lost control” in some cities. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu called for localised curfews from Monday evening.
The demonstrations were ostensibly about living costs, education standards and opposition to Emmanuel Macron’s government. But they soon descended into arson and looting, as rioters torched public buildings and ransacked shops.
Bardella explicitly rejected claims that poverty could excuse the wrecking spree.
“Nothing will ever justify burning down a brand new secondary school”, he said, also condemning attacks on tourist offices, town halls and sports facilities.
He accused violent groups of being driven by hatred, warning: “That desire for revenge will continue for as long as the state remains weak.”
His answer was a crackdown, alongside restored discipline and authority in schools.
“We therefore need a very strong response on security”, he said. “But we also need to stop immigration.”
The National Rally president accused those behind the destruction of hating the nation that welcomed their families.
It came as Reform UK leader Nigel Farage warned that the carnage could be “our future” unless Britain wakes up.
Bardella condemned what he called a “deadly convergence between ultra-left rioters and predators from the suburbs” as shops were ransacked and public buildings torched across France.
He said: “A very large proportion of the looters are people from immigrant backgrounds who do not feel French.”
He accused them of expressing “hatred” towards “a country that, very often, welcomed their parents and showed great generosity towards their own families”.
US President Donald Trump also pointed to the role that uncontrolled immigration has played in the disorder, accusing “immigrants with hatred in their hearts” of making France ungovernable.
Meanwhile Farage issued a stark warning for Britain. He said: “If we don’t wake up, the carnage in France is our future.” The Reform UK leader called for a return to law, order and secure borders.
Reform UK Shadow Chancellor Robert Jenrick also warned: “Mass migration and soft-touch law and order destroys countries. Macron has chosen to ignore this obvious fact. We can either do the same and face a similar fate, or fight to save Britain.”
Jenrick warned that Britain was heading for the same disaster: “France is on fire. This fate awaits us too, if we don’t wake up quickly. Mass migration, multiculturalism and self-loathing is destroying Europe. It will destroy Britain too. We have one chance to save our country.”
Almost 2,400 people were arrested across France over the weekend, with footage showing masked looters carrying away televisions and stealing motorbikes.
The government said that at least 3,000 businesses had been attacked, and that damage was estimated at hundreds of millions of euros.
Interior minister Laurent Nunez admitted police had “lost control” in some cities. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu called for localised curfews from Monday evening.
The demonstrations were ostensibly about living costs, education standards and opposition to Emmanuel Macron’s government. But they soon descended into arson and looting, as rioters torched public buildings and ransacked shops.
Bardella explicitly rejected claims that poverty could excuse the wrecking spree.
“Nothing will ever justify burning down a brand new secondary school”, he said, also condemning attacks on tourist offices, town halls and sports facilities.
He accused violent groups of being driven by hatred, warning: “That desire for revenge will continue for as long as the state remains weak.”
His answer was a crackdown, alongside restored discipline and authority in schools.
“We therefore need a very strong response on security”, he said. “But we also need to stop immigration.”
