French newspaper rips Macron after riots erupt across France: ‘Indelible stain’

A prominent French newspaper delivered a blistering critique of the country’s leadership after nationwide protests descended into riots, looting and arson.

The article , written by Vincent Trémolet de Villers for the conservative newspaper Le Figaro and published Sunday afternoon local time, blamed years of political failures for contributing to the unrest and took particular aim at President Emmanuel Macron .

It criticized what it described as a justice system that is "lenient toward criminals," accused far-left groups of carrying out violence with little consequence and took aim at France’s immigration and security policies.

"A judiciary that is lenient toward criminals but unrelenting toward decent citizens.

The incomprehensible privilege of these far-left militias, who destroy, set fires, and kill with impunity," the article stated, according to a translation.

"An uncontrolled immigration, in which a portion of the immigrants rebels against the country that took them in." WHERE'S MACRON? FRENCH LEADER BLASTED FOR ATTENDING CONCERT AS RIOTS ESCALATED The article also took aim at Macron over his past calls for police to show greater empathy.

"Emmanuel Macron’s reprimands toward a police force he deemed insufficiently 'empathetic' — directed at officers under attack by bolts, cobblestones, and mortar fireworks — will remain an indelible stain," it stated.

The author argued that the unrest reflected deeper failures by France’s political establishment.

"If the far-left, criminals, and looters can turn France upside down in a matter of hours, it is primarily because a technocratic monarchy — intoxicated by its own self-importance — has methodically dismantled all the moral, security, cultural, and economic safeguards that allow a society to remain standing." The scathing assessment followed a day of violence across France, where masked groups clashed with police, looted businesses, set fires and attacked public buildings, according to The Associated Press.

Macron addressed the nation Sunday, condemning the violence and vowing that those responsible would be held accountable.

PHOTOS SHOW AFTERMATH OF RIOTS AS MASKED GROUPS CLASH WITH POLICE ACROSS FRANCE "Nothing will excuse their actions.

We all tonight feel angry.

We feel shame as well," Macron said, according to a translation of his televised remarks.

"There needs to be a response.