Brazil

Au Brésil, October 19. The press describes a France emerging from a weekend of unrest that Folha describes as "one of the most violent days in years." On October 17, more than 500,000 people marched against the rising cost of living and the deterioration of public services; Folha and Jornal de Brasília report a protester killed, nearly 1,000 police officers injured, and around 2,400 arrests. The city hall of Limoges was set on fire.

On Monday, October 19, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu asked mayors, then prefects according to reports, to decree curfews. G1 and Estadão quote his phrase: "partial curfews." Estadão estimates that at least 3,000 businesses were damaged or looted. Marseille banned gatherings from 12 pm to 8 pm and Denain instituted a nighttime curfew. Folha notes that Lecornu is ruling out a state of emergency for now, which was requested by Bruno Retailleau, but does not exclude it: "if necessary, we can adopt it."

G1 dedicates an article to videos of desperate merchants in Nice and Paris, and Estadão reports on the looting of the headquarters of the esports team Team Vitality. Brazilian headlines also follow the political dimension: Emmanuel Macron stated on Sunday, October 18, that "nothing justifies" the violence, while addressing the youth at the origin of the protests, and, according to Jornal de Brasília, acknowledged on Monday "flaws" in police management. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez attempted to resign, according to G1, and his actions are being criticized for an insufficient response.

The electoral context is being considered: Jornal de Brasília situates the crisis six months before the presidential election, and G1 talks about a Macron in the "final stretch" of his term, facing a polarized electorate. The headlines also relay the reaction of Donald Trump, who attributed the violence to immigration, and the reminder from the European Commission, which calls to protect the right to demonstrate while judging the fires and looting "unacceptable." The blockade of the Louvre by students on Monday is presented by G1 as a gesture of support for the student movement and a denunciation of "police repression."