France’s violent unrest has handed Hungary and Poland a vivid argument for the tough migration policies they have defended [1] against pressure from Brussels. More than 800 rioters were arrested in France for looting and setting buildings ablaze.
Dr. Qanta Ahmed, a fellow at the Independent Women’s Forum, warned of rising violence in Europe as pro-Palestinian and communist mobs clash with police. She examined the cultural and political shifts behind destructive protests across major European cities.
Hungary and Poland have resisted opening their borders to unchecked immigration, even while facing fines and sanctions from European Union courts. Hungary faced that pressure under former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, while Poland faced sanctions in 2025.
Eurostat figures showed that France had almost 10 million foreign born residents in 2025, while Italy had about 7 million. Poland had roughly 1 million, including about half from Ukraine, while Hungary had fewer than 700,000, most born in other EU countries.
Reacting to the unrest, Hungarian Prime Minister Péter Magyar posted on X, “Europe can count on Hungary.” He argued that the destruction demonstrated why Hungary favors the strictest possible migration approach and will not weaken its border protection or immigration policy under pressure.
Shocking videos and images are coming out of France. Historic buildings have been destroyed, hundreds of police officers have been injured, and enormous material damage has been caused amid the escalating vandalism and violence of recent days.
In the face of this senseless destruction and unjustified violence, perhaps it is now clear to everyone why Hungary advocates the strictest possible approach to migration, and why we will not weaken our border protection or immigration policy under any pressure.
I am glad that the current EU summit has made it clear that the overwhelming majority of European countries have woken up and want to break with the permissive policies of the past. We hope it is not too late.
Let there be no doubt: peaceful and lawful protest is one thing; vandalism and violence are quite another. The former is a fundamental right; the latter is a serious crime.
The Europe we all love is in serious trouble today. It is our responsibility, too, to help preserve our continent as the most wonderful place in the world for our children and grandchildren.
Europe can count on Hungary.
I express my full solidarity with the French people.
— Magyar Péter (Ne féljetek) (@magyarpeterMP) October 18, 2026 [2]
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk delivered a similarly blunt warning. “Poland will not repeat the mistakes of other European countries, nor will it pay for them,” he wrote, adding that Poland defends its border, rejects asylum applications and deports people who break Polish law.
Following the protests in Paris, Tusk says Poland will defend itself against illegal migration
“Poland will not repeat the mistakes of other European countries, nor will it pay for them,” the Polish prime minister wrote on X.
According to Donald Tusk, Poland is pursuing its own asylum policy and deporting those who violate Polish law.
“We will be relentless on security,” Tusk stressed.
The video shows France in flames. The “Day of Rage” has turned the country into a war zone.
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) October 18, 2026 [3]
Sweden based political scientist Daniel Schatz told Fox News Digital that burning buildings and looted businesses were becoming political ammunition throughout Europe. He said leaders advocating tougher immigration rules could tell domestic voters, “This is what we intend to prevent.”
The latest available Eurostat crime figures showed France reporting 304,900 police recorded offenses in 2024, among the EU’s highest totals. Italy reported 142,600, compared with 57,300 in Poland and 28,600 in Hungary, which were among Europe’s lowest totals.
Eurostat’s 2023 perception metric also placed France among the highest, with about 20% reporting crime or vandalism in their areas. Italy recorded between 14% and 17%, Poland between 7% and 8%, and Hungary between 6% and 7%.
Boštjan Udovič, Chair of International Relations at the University of Ljubljana’s Faculty of Social Sciences in Slovenia, said Central and Eastern Europeans connect the French riots with immigration, nonadaptation and failed integration. Schatz said Magyar and Tusk were sending Brussels a clear political message.
Magyar said the previous week’s European Council summit showed that most European countries wanted to abandon earlier permissive policies. He also expressed solidarity with the French people and said Europe was in serious trouble, with leaders responsible for preserving it for future generations.
Udovič said Central and Eastern European countries commonly connect EU membership with national identity. He argued it would be unrealistic to expect countries that fought for independence through national movements to readily embrace the concept of a multiethnic society.
Poland’s next parliamentary election is scheduled for November 2027. Former Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, identified as a possible opponent of Tusk, posted, “France is burning, and we must be wise before the harm is done.”
JUST IN: While France burns, Polish Member of European Parliament Dominik Tarczynski is WALKING THROUGH Krakow LATE at night, showing all of Europe it’s PERFECTLY CALM
“Look how safe we are. Churches are safe. Because we did not let them in. Zero means zero. ‘Be like Poland’ means be brave.”
“We know what jihadists are capable of. We do not know what second or third generation of so-called refugees will do. Well, actually we do know… we can see what is happening in France.”
There are no riots, no burning buildings and no police lines
Poland refused the EU’s migrant relocation quotas, and the EU’s top court ruled against it. Poland didn’t budge!
In the same 24 hours, France’s major streets and businesses are burning and being ransacked by leftists, Islamists and invaders
EVERY NATION CAN BE LIKE THIS. It’s a matter of CHOICE https://t.co/oN6o9ZOBlf
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) October 18, 2026 [4]
Morawiecki said his new center-right coalition, Rozwoj Plus, had comprehensive proposals intended to make Poland prosperous and the safest country in the world. Udovič said Tusk was entering a form of election campaigning in which migration would be an issue.
Á. Félix Debrenti, a former official under Orbán and current board member of the Hungarian Atlantic Council, said strict immigration policies enjoy broad support in Hungary. He said abandoning Orbán’s approach could cost Magyar significant political support while his party faces growing pressures.
Debrenti said a tough immigration position allows Magyar to direct attention toward an issue with broad national agreement. Magyar also drew a hard line between lawful demonstrations and criminal destruction, writing, “The former is a fundamental right; the latter is a serious crime.”
Dear jihadists,
You’ve been warned.BE LIKE POLAND! https://t.co/AxoioIBeGk
— Dominik Tarczyński MEP (@D_Tarczynski) October 19, 2026 [5]