The historic town hall in the French city of Limoges, left in ruins after protests last week, has become a symbol of national discontent. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing BBC News.

Mayor Guillaume Guérin, who was in tears when he first saw the damage, believes the reaction is "legitimate and completely understandable." He blames the damage on the French hard left, "supported by rioters." Two men have been arrested, a 66-year-old and a 34-year-old suspect. Prosecutors say they have links to "radical-left networks."

Limoges' conservative mayor claims he has received a message of support from US Vice President JD Vance, but not from Emmanuel Macron, his own outgoing president. "What happened here will have an influence on the upcoming presidential election. This country is not doing well at all," he says.

For weeks, hundreds of thousands of people, mostly young, have engaged in protests that have only increased in size and scope. What started as a demonstration over the poor state of high schools has expanded to general frustration over how challenging and expensive life has become. In the backdrop is a daunting fiscal deficit, one of the biggest in Europe, and political candidates from across the spectrum claiming to have the answers ahead of presidential elections in six months' time.

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu visited Limoges on Friday evening. Officials have banned demonstrations in various cities and promised to boost police numbers over the weekend. That includes in Limoges, where overnight curfews have been announced, along with a limit on gatherings to 10 people in the centre.

But not everyone condemns the destruction. Alexander, 24, asks: "Of course it was really sad, it's a symbol of the republic, but what is more important: a town hall or people living in poverty?" Jade, a 19-year-old medical student, complains of having to live on €300 per month. "I feel we are not respected as young adults," she says.

Damage in Limoges is reported at €500,000. Jean Roger Faucher, 63, described it as a "week of chaos."