France considers curfews as cost-of-living protests turn violent

Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu of France has called for localized curfews in response to violent protests over the high cost of living. The unrest started with peaceful demonstrations but escalated into violent clashes, with protesters attacking law enforcement, public buildings, and looting shops. Over 2,330 people were arrested and more than 2,000 shops were damaged, with damages totaling hundreds of millions of euros.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez, who suggested calling for curfews, resigned after facing criticism for the government's security response. French President Emmanuel Macron, who rejected Nunez's resignation, acknowledged security failures and vowed to restore public order. Similar protests have occurred in other European countries, with some chaos breaking out in Milan, Belgium, Spain, and Portugal.

The European Union condemned the violence while emphasizing the importance of protecting peaceful protest rights. Germany warned of further unrest, and the UK stated that violence cannot be justified under the pretext of protest. The unrest has intensified before a crucial presidential election, with far-right candidate Marine Le Pen gaining popularity.