France Extends Curfews as Government Responds to Weekend Violence and Looting

15:30

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has announced that additional local curfews will be imposed on Tuesday evening wherever authorities consider them necessary, following a night that police and gendarmerie officials described as relatively calm. The restrictions were introduced after a weekend of violence, vandalism and looting linked to demonstrations against the rising cost of living.

In a statement published on X on Tuesday morning, Lecornu credited the targeted restrictions with helping restore calm. The measures, which came into force on Monday evening at different times between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m., covered selected areas of Paris, Lyon, Bordeaux, Lille and Nice. In Lille, Bordeaux and Nice, the restrictions initially applied specifically to minors.

While some orders were limited to the night between Monday and Tuesday, others, including those in Bordeaux and Nice, were scheduled to remain in effect for several days. Local prefects and mayors are expected to determine where further restrictions are warranted.

Government mobilises to support businesses

Alongside the security response, the government is preparing measures to assist businesses affected by the unrest. Serge Papin, the minister responsible for commerce, said at least 3,000 shops had suffered damage or been looted.

Economy Minister Roland Lescure has pledged support for affected retailers and craftspeople. An exceptional meeting with business representatives is scheduled at the Ministry of the Economy in Paris, with several members of the government expected to attend.

Authorities are also preparing to introduce temporary work arrangements to help businesses manage the immediate economic consequences of the violence, alongside a dedicated support fund.

The scale of the damage has prompted criticism from business leaders. Patrick Martin, president of the French employers' organisation Medef, accused the state of failing to fulfil its responsibilities in maintaining public order.

The government has also scheduled discussions with representatives of major social media platforms amid concerns that online content may have contributed to the escalation of the unrest.

More than 120 people already imprisoned

The judicial response is intensifying as officials seek to establish responsibility for the incidents. Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin announced on Tuesday that 123 people had been imprisoned since the violence began.

Darmanin said he had instructed prosecutors to consider classifying certain offences under organised crime provisions. Such a classification could allow police custody to be extended to 72 hours in qualifying cases.

Investigators are also examining the fire that damaged the town hall in Limoges on Saturday. According to a source close to the investigation cited by Agence France-Presse, France's anti-terrorism police directorate had been assigned to the case. Lecornu is expected to visit the city on Friday.

Separately, City Minister Vincent Jeanbrun announced plans for administrative guidance aimed at recovering from social benefits amounts equivalent to proceeds from trafficking or the handling of stolen goods, subject to the applicable legal framework.

Political divisions deepen over the handling of the crisis

The government's response has drawn criticism from opposing sides of the political spectrum. Right-wing figures have questioned whether the authorities acted firmly enough to prevent the destruction and looting, while left-wing representatives argue that the executive has failed to address the protesters' social grievances.

Mathilde Panot, leader of the La France Insoumise parliamentary group, criticised the restrictions and accused the government of responding to young people's demands with measures that threaten civil liberties.

The debate has also been fuelled by reports of serious injuries among demonstrators. In Mulhouse, a 17-year-old girl lost an eye, while a 17-year-old boy in Saint-Étienne suffered the loss of a hand following the use of a grenade. The latter's lawyer announced plans to file a complaint against the officer who fired the weapon and Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez.

The executive has meanwhile pointed to the role of La France Insoumise and far-left groups in the unrest. The party announced that it intended to bring proceedings against Nuñez before the Court of Justice of the Republic, following a Mediapart report alleging that the government had asked intelligence services to implicate the party in the weekend's violence.

Nuñez previously acknowledged a loss of control in certain cities and offered his resignation on Sunday. President Emmanuel Macron declined to accept it.

Dialogue planned as international concern grows

Lecornu has invited political parties to a meeting at the prime minister's office on Thursday and will meet trade union representatives on Wednesday. The participation of some opposition groups remains uncertain, while CFDT leader Marylise Léon has called for substantive social responses to the crisis.

The unrest has also attracted international attention. US President Donald Trump commented on the situation in France, while Chinese authorities urged their nationals in the country to exercise increased vigilance.

The European Union condemned the looting and arson but also stressed the importance of safeguarding the right to peaceful protest.

As France prepares for another evening of possible curfews, the government faces the dual challenge of restoring public order and addressing the economic and social tensions underlying the demonstrations. Whether the additional restrictions will prevent further violence remains to be seen.