France Imposes Local Curfews After Weekend of Unrest
Paris police imposed an overnight curfew in two parts of the capital on Monday following a weekend of unrest across France. The restrictions cover Place de la République, where rioting occurred Saturday, and the Les Halles shopping district, where businesses were looted. The curfew runs from 11 p.m. Monday to 6 a.m. Tuesday; gatherings and demonstrations are banned in those areas from 8 p.m.
The unrest followed nationwide protests over rising living costs and conditions in schools. Violence continued Sunday in Paris, Lyon, Marseille and other cities, where groups set fires, damaged property and looted shops. Authorities reported at least 2,400 arrests and estimated that at least 3,000 businesses had been damaged or looted. Public buildings were also targeted. In Limoges, a fire caused the roof of the 19th-century city hall to collapse.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu called for curfews to remain limited and localized. Several northern cities, including Lille, introduced overnight curfews for minors, as did Nice. Authorities in Marseille banned protests and gatherings for part of Monday. Lecornu defended the police response, noting that no deaths had been reported despite the extent of the violence and damage.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez offered to resign Sunday, saying he was responsible for the response. President Emmanuel Macron declined the resignation and asked Nuñez to examine shortcomings in planning and intelligence gathering. Macron also called for new policing tactics. Nuñez acknowledged that authorities had lost control in some major cities and said police needed to adapt to highly mobile groups.
The damage has prompted questions about the protection of businesses and public spaces. One Paris shop owner said looters entered his store after he closed it and that police did not arrive despite his call. Opposition leader Jordan Bardella criticized the government’s response. Cleanup crews and firefighters worked in Paris on Monday as local authorities maintained restrictions intended to prevent further violence.