France PM promises more curfews as authorities seek to regain control

France's Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has called for localized curfews to combat widespread unrest stemming from cost-of-living protests. The demonstrations, which began peacefully, escalated over the weekend into significant street violence, with protesters blocking the Louvre and hundreds of shops looted and damaged. The interior minister admitted police had "lost control" during the unrest, which saw over 2,330 arrests and nearly 1,000 security force injuries. Prime Minister Lecornu vowed to restore public order and is prepared to declare a state of emergency if necessary, blaming an "ultra-left movement" for orchestrating the deep unrest. The violence occurs as France faces rising prices and approaches a presidential election.

French President Emmanuel Macron has rejected Interior Minister Laurent Nunez's offer to resign following nationwide protests that devolved into riots and looting. The demonstrations, which involved students protesting educational conditions and citizens angered by the high cost of living, saw over 2,300 arrests and nearly 1,000 police injuries. Nunez acknowledged that police "lost control" during the weekend events. Macron instructed Nunez to remain in his post to maintain police command and to develop new strategies for dealing with looters. The President also called for transparency regarding planning and intelligence failures that contributed to the violence.

France is experiencing widespread violent unrest, with public buildings burned, hundreds of shops destroyed and looted, and over 2,000 arrests made across the country. The government is holding crisis talks following what some officials are calling a "colossal failure of the state" in responding to the scale of the violence. Politicians from both the left and right are calling for the resignation of Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, as the government appears to have been caught off guard. President Emmanuel Macron is preparing to address the nation, stating there is "no place for violence." The unrest occurred alongside peaceful demonstrations for educational and cost-of-living demands, with looters reportedly taking advantage of the chaos.

Violent clashes erupted across France for a fourth week as protests over the cost of living and student grievances escalated. President Emmanuel Macron acknowledged legitimate concerns but stated they were being exploited for political purposes and turned into urban violence, calling for concrete government responses. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu specifically accused the left-wing LFI party of instrumentalizing the student movement for electoral gain. While many protests were peaceful, police used tear gas and water cannons in Paris against groups engaging in violence, resulting in hundreds of arrests nationwide. Accusations of excessive police force have led to internal investigations, while police unions have filed lawsuits over perceived contradictory orders. The protests have also spread to neighboring Belgium, with similar clashes reported.

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu stated that targeted curfews implemented in Paris and other major cities have helped to restore calm overnight. He suggested that additional curfews may be introduced if necessary to quell ongoing unrest following weekend protests. As a visible sign of increased security, a helicopter with a searchlight was observed over Place de la Republique in Paris, a focal point of the disturbances. The government is considering further measures to manage the situation.

Massive protests across France, initially sparked by school infrastructure issues and public sector cuts, devolved into riots and looting in many cities over the weekend of October 18-19, 2026. Far-right politician Marine Le Pen, aiming to bolster her National Rally party's image for the April 2027 presidential election, criticized President Macron's handling of the crisis. Le Pen blamed the political left and immigration for the unrest, presenting her party as capable of restoring order, though she did not offer evidence for her claims about immigrants' involvement. While most demonstrations were peaceful, some groups attacked public buildings and shops, leading to widespread damage and hundreds of arrests. Experts suggest the protests could benefit Le Pen, who is currently leading in polls.

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu announced that local authorities, in coordination with mayors, will decide on imposing curfews where necessary to restore order. This comes after weekend demonstrations over the cost of living and education issues escalated into riots, resulting in over 2,500 arrests. While Monday night saw no major incidents, the government is intensifying efforts to contain the unrest. Digital Minister Anne Le Henanff will meet with social media executives to address the online sale of looted goods. Further protests are planned for Saturday, though major trade unions have not yet backed the call and will meet with Lecornu on Wednesday. Lecornu will also hold talks with political parties on Thursday regarding the protests, which precede upcoming presidential elections.

Overnight curfews have been imposed in parts of central Paris and other French cities, including Marseille, Bordeaux, Nice, Lyon, and Lille, following widespread riots and looting. These measures restrict movement and unauthorized gatherings, particularly affecting young people in some locations. The unrest, which began with student protests over school conditions, has broadened to include trade unions and other groups. France's Interior Minister acknowledged that police had "lost control" in some cities. Authorities reported over 2,500 arrests, with approximately 1,000 police officers injured. Local mayors have been granted the authority to implement curfews as needed.

France's Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez conceded that police "lost control" in some cities during violent weekend protests, citing a "lack of anticipation" and inadequate police numbers. President Emmanuel Macron has demanded a security review and new operational methods to end the unrest, which saw an estimated 2,000 shops looted and nearly 2,400 arrests. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu stated that partial curfews could be imposed in some cities to restore public order, though a full curfew is not planned for Paris. The protests, which involved over 500,000 demonstrators, were larger than anticipated and saw peaceful demonstrations hijacked by rioters. Nuñez offered his resignation, which Macron refused, instead tasking him with addressing planning and intelligence failures.