France wants curfews in some areas after weekend of riots

France's central government has requested local authorities to enforce curfews and face scrutiny over security lapses following a weekend of riots and looting sparked by nationwide anti-government protests. Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu suggested a state of emergency, but opted for localized curfews instead, without specifying which cities would be affected.

Lecornu emphasized his commitment to restoring order, but ruled out a city-wide curfew in Paris. The weekend's violence and looting followed weeks of student demonstrations, exacerbating France's economic challenges and surging debt, and marked the country's unrest six months before presidential elections. Hard-left presidential candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon demanded evidence of far-left groups' involvement in the unrest, urging Lecornu to clarify or apologize.

The Federation of Trade and Retail reported that nearly 3,000 shops suffered damage over the weekend, with the retail sector calling for relief from social security contributions and tax for affected businesses. Around 2,400 people were arrested, one protester died, and nearly 1,000 officers were injured. French assets underperformed compared to broader European markets, and tensions within Macron's government over security shortcomings could further unsettle investors.

The mayors of Paris, Marseille, and Lyon expressed concern about the lack of protection during the unrest, emphasizing the need to address the residents' anger. Additionally, unions called for new strikes and rallies on November 5. Intelligence failures were cited as a cause of the unrest, with hundreds of thousands protesting over inadequate public services and cost-of-living pressures.

French police deployed over 60,000 forces on Saturday, but acknowledged it was insufficient to control the violent crowds.