French Cities Remain Calm Overnight After Curfews, Prime Minister Says

AFP

Protestor holding the French flag in France.

French cities experienced a relatively calm night after targeted curfews were imposed to contain violence following a weekend of riots and looting, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said.

Curfews were introduced in parts of central Paris, including Place de la République, where protesters had gathered over the weekend, as well as the Les Halles shopping district.

Restrictions on the movement of young people and public gatherings were also introduced in several other cities, including Marseille, Bordeaux, Nice and Lyon in the south, and Lille and other towns in the north.

Lecornu thanked police officers and gendarmes for enforcing the measures, adding that further curfews for Tuesday night would be considered according to local circumstances.

In a post on X, the prime minister said decisions would be taken “on the ground” by regional authorities and local mayors.

Earlier, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez acknowledged that police had “lost control” in some cities. He faced strong criticism from opposition politicians over the authorities’ preparedness for the unrest and offered his resignation on Monday. However, President Emmanuel Macron rejected it.

Officials said more than 2,500 people had been arrested since the disorder began. According to the AFP news agency, one demonstrator lost a hand after being struck by a police crowd-control grenade, while around 1,000 police officers were injured.

The protests began last month, with students calling for improved school conditions. They have since expanded to encompass wider grievances, attracting support from trade unions and various protest groups.



PUKMEDIA