French PM calls for limited curfews to curb rioting

The French prime minister, Sebastien Lecornu, has proposed implementing very limited and localized curfews in response to the worst riots in years that took place over the weekend. The unrest targeted city halls, public buildings, and businesses across the country, resulting in at least 3,000 damaged or looted establishments.

Lecornu defended the police's handling of the situation, emphasizing that no one was killed during the violent incidents. He stated that details of the curfews would be announced later on Monday, following consultations with mayors. The prime minister's call for curfews echoes those imposed during previous riots, such as those following a fatal police shooting in 2023 and the yellow vest movement in 2018.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez had offered his resignation on Sunday, but President Emmanuel Macron refused it, citing the need to maintain command of law enforcement. Nunez requested new policing tactics to be introduced swiftly to curb the violence. At least 2,400 people were arrested across the country during the unrest, which erupted in response to rising living costs and poor school conditions.

Lecornu acknowledged that authorities had lost control in some major cities on Saturday, with shopkeepers suffering significant damage. He blamed the violence on troublemakers, looters, and far-left activists, emphasizing the need for better anticipation and police strategy adaptation. The far-right National Rally's Jordan Bardella criticized the government's failure to prevent the violence, urging people to use their voting power beyond the right to protest.