Paris [France], October 18 (ANI): United States Vice President JD Vance has blamed immigration in France as the reason behind the tudent-led protests against budget cuts in education and "deplorable" school conditions continue

'Western liberals imported the third world into France and other countries in the name of diversity and compassion. They ignored fundamental questions of assimilation and compatibility. They were told it would lead to this and they didn't listen. I pray that France, a beautiful country of amazing people, will stop this madness before more of its landmarks burn. And I hope Americans are paying attention. This is the future congressional Democrats seek for your country' Vance said.

Meanwhile, in France the protests have gained momentum with French media reporting that former 'Yellow Vest' figures set to join the protests in support of high-school students. 'Yellow Vest' movement began in 2018 in France, bringing thousands of people to the streets against rising fuel prices and economic inequality. The protests were met with rubber bullets fired by the police, injuring more than 2,500 protesters and 1,800 police personnel in the clashes.

French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez told France 24 that 5,50,000 people took part in the protests against dwindling purchasing power, with 1,10,000 demonstrators in the capital. Police have arrested 400 protesters over vandalism charges, he said.

As per a France24 report, while there are demonstrations planned over rising fuel prices, backed by the Left across the nation, Yellow Vest activists have denied initial involvement.

'No Yellow Vest was behind the (October 17 protests). Now, as soon as people talk about fuel and discontent, they are immediately labelled 'Yellow Vests'. It's almost become a brand,' Rodrigues said.

However, activist Sophie Tissier drew parallels between the 2018 protests and the ongoing agitation, saying, "This movement is entirely legitimate. French people are exhausted."

Even activist Rodrigues noted, "As Yellow Vests, we still carry the frustration of not having finished the fight. Perhaps we were waiting for a new wave of popular mobilisation that we could join, so that we could finish what we started."

Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron has expressed a firm response to violence amid the ongoing protests, driven primarily by students who, over the past few weeks, have engaged in violent demonstrations to denounce what they call "deplorable" school conditions and excessive police force.

In a post on X, Macron vowed strict action against the protestors who were involved in vandalism and looting, expressing solidarity against 'sowers of chaos.'

'No room for violence in our Republic. Those who have broken, attacked the prefectures as well as businesses, looted even our town halls, will be prosecuted and punished. To the law enforcement forces, guarantors of the right to demonstrate, I express the support of the Nation. We will all stand united against the sowers of chaos, who seek only to bring down our institutions and prevent those who peacefully express their demands from doing so,' he wrote.

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu also condemned the escalating unrest, emphasising that peaceful demonstrations were legitimate but that acts of arson, looting and attacks on public and private property would not be tolerated.

According to France24, the demonstrations turned severely violent, resulting in a protester losing a hand, multiple fires being set, and dozens of retail stores being ransacked.

This wave of widespread turmoil builds on weeks of ongoing student-led protests, further deepening the political crisis in France just six months ahead of the upcoming elections in the country. (ANI)