France seeks curfews as riots leave 2,400 arrested

France's central government is considering imposing curfews in certain areas following a weekend of riots and looting that erupted during nationwide anti-government protests. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu suggested a state of emergency may be declared, but opted for limited, localized curfews for now, without specifying which cities would be affected. "My determination to restore order is absolute," Lecornu declared, adding that a blanket curfew would not be implemented in Paris.

The weekend of violence and unrest followed weeks of student demonstrations and came six months before the country's next presidential election. Lecornu blamed far-left groups for some of the worst unrest in years, stating that a far-left movement aimed to cause "profound unrest" ahead of the election. Hard-left presidential candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon demanded evidence and accused Lecornu of fanning the flames of unrest if he failed to provide proof.

The Federation of Trade and Retail reported that nearly 3,000 shops suffered damage over the weekend, exacerbating the economic struggles of an already weakened retail sector. The Federation called for relief from social security contributions and tax for affected businesses. Lecornu promised furlough measures to take effect on Tuesday, resulting in about 2,400 arrests and one protester's death due to a cardiac arrest, alongside nearly 1,000 injured police officers.

French assets underperformed European markets on Monday, but the impact remained contained compared to previous instances of political tension. The government's security shortcomings have raised tensions within President Emmanuel Macron's weak government, potentially further unsettling investors ahead of the crucial budget bill.