France Considers Additional Curfews After Weekend Protest Violence
(MENAFN) French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said Tuesday that authorities may introduce further local curfews following violence during weekend demonstrations over the rising cost of living, as officials reported thousands of arrests and damage to businesses.
In a statement on X, Lecornu said targeted curfews had "contributed to calm" overnight. He added that additional restrictions could be announced Tuesday evening “where the situation requires it.”
Decisions on any new measures will be made by local prefects in coordination with mayors, he said. Partial curfews were introduced Monday night in several areas, including Paris and Lyon, as authorities sought to prevent further unrest.
Police and gendarmerie sources described the night as largely peaceful, although some incidents were reported during demonstrations in Martinique.
Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin said 2,513 people had been taken into custody following the weekend unrest, with 67 sent to prison and dozens of judicial investigations launched.
Speaking to CNews-Europe 1, Darmanin dismissed calls for a state of emergency, arguing that authorities could re-establish order through firm enforcement without imposing restrictions on the freedoms of the wider population.
Meanwhile, National Assembly President Yaël Braun-Pivet called on the government to respond to demonstrators’ concerns, noting that hundreds of thousands of people had participated in peaceful protests.
She cautioned that questions surrounding public order should not divert attention from the protesters’ demands or the ongoing debate over the national budget.
Patrick Martin, president of business federation Medef, criticized the authorities for what he described as a failure to maintain order. He pointed to preliminary government estimates indicating that at least 3,000 businesses had been affected by the unrest.
Economy Minister Roland Lescure said assistance measures would be announced for affected shopkeepers and craftspeople to help them resume normal operations as quickly as possible.
The demonstrations come amid public frustration over living costs and economic pressures. A Yellow Vest coordination group has called for another mobilization on Saturday, Oct. 24, raising the possibility of further protests in the coming days.
In a statement on X, Lecornu said targeted curfews had "contributed to calm" overnight. He added that additional restrictions could be announced Tuesday evening “where the situation requires it.”
Decisions on any new measures will be made by local prefects in coordination with mayors, he said. Partial curfews were introduced Monday night in several areas, including Paris and Lyon, as authorities sought to prevent further unrest.
Police and gendarmerie sources described the night as largely peaceful, although some incidents were reported during demonstrations in Martinique.
Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin said 2,513 people had been taken into custody following the weekend unrest, with 67 sent to prison and dozens of judicial investigations launched.
Speaking to CNews-Europe 1, Darmanin dismissed calls for a state of emergency, arguing that authorities could re-establish order through firm enforcement without imposing restrictions on the freedoms of the wider population.
Meanwhile, National Assembly President Yaël Braun-Pivet called on the government to respond to demonstrators’ concerns, noting that hundreds of thousands of people had participated in peaceful protests.
She cautioned that questions surrounding public order should not divert attention from the protesters’ demands or the ongoing debate over the national budget.
Patrick Martin, president of business federation Medef, criticized the authorities for what he described as a failure to maintain order. He pointed to preliminary government estimates indicating that at least 3,000 businesses had been affected by the unrest.
Economy Minister Roland Lescure said assistance measures would be announced for affected shopkeepers and craftspeople to help them resume normal operations as quickly as possible.
The demonstrations come amid public frustration over living costs and economic pressures. A Yellow Vest coordination group has called for another mobilization on Saturday, Oct. 24, raising the possibility of further protests in the coming days.
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