Foreign Ministry: No Reports of Indonesians in Europe Harmed by Unrest

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemenlu) has stated that as of Thursday (22/10/2026), there have been no reports of Indonesian citizens (WNI) being victims of unrest in France and Italy.

"Based on our diplomatic missions in France and Italy, namely the Indonesian Embassy in France, the Consulate General in Marseille, and the Indonesian Embassy in Rome, there have been no reports of any WNI affected by the demonstrations to date," said the Director of the Protection of Indonesian Citizens, Heni Hamidah, during a press conference at the Ministry in Jakarta on Thursday (22/10/2026).

The government has also not planned to issue travel warnings for WNI intending to travel to Europe.

However, Kemenlu advises WNI to monitor the situation in Europe following the recent unrest.

"WNI residing in Europe are encouraged to adjust their travel plans, taking into account the potential disruptions to public transportation in Europe," Heni stated.

Heni also urged WNI to continuously monitor official information from local authorities.

"The Ministry and our diplomatic missions will keep monitoring the security situation following the demonstrations and will maintain communication with WNI," she added.

Kemenlu recorded a total of 5,442 WNI in France and 2,403 in Italy.

Demonstrations in France

According to a report from The New York Times, the violence during the protests in France was a mix of student movements demanding better school conditions and a national movement protesting the high cost of living.

The Ministry of the Interior stated that around 550,000 people participated in various regions across France.

Meanwhile, the CGT labor union estimated a higher figure, with about 800,000 demonstrators taking to the streets.

The demonstrations turned chaotic, with acts of arson, assaults, and looting.

A fire attack destroyed part of the city hall in Limoges, located in central France.

In Marseille, the second-largest city, a group of masked individuals stormed a government building and toppled a bust of Marianne, a symbol of the republic.

Several rioters vandalized around 1,500 stores and various symbols of France, resulting in nearly 2,400 arrests.

The French government estimates that at least 3,000 businesses nationwide were looted over the weekend.