French prime minister seeks local curfews after unrest, keeps emergency powers open
Sébastien Lecornu said targeted curfews could help restore order after a violent weekend, while a state of emergency remained an option if needed.
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said on Monday, 19 October, that he had asked regional authorities to impose local curfews after violent protests across France, while leaving open a state of emergency if needed. He said targeted restrictions appeared better suited to the unrest at this stage, but had not identified the affected areas or the terms of any curfew.
Speaking after an emergency cabinet meeting, Lecornu said he was determined to restore public order. He told reporters a state of emergency was possible if necessary, according to The Guardian, but said partial curfews were more appropriate for now. He ruled out a blanket curfew across entire cities such as Paris.
Where local curfews could apply
Lecornu had asked regional authorities to put local curfews in place on Monday evening, particularly to protect businesses, AFP reported through CNA. He said a map of the proposed zones was expected later that day after consultations with mayors. The government had not yet set out which cities would be covered or how the restrictions would work.
The proposal followed a weekend of rioting and looting after weeks of demonstrations by high school students seeking better conditions in schools. Lecornu said the disorder was concentrated in urban centres rather than spread across the country. Trade and Small Businesses Minister Serge Papin said at least 3,000 businesses had been affected, according to AFP. Lecornu said they would receive help from a dedicated support fund and other measures.
Police planning questioned after weekend violence
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said police had lost control in some cities and acknowledged shortcomings in preparations, The Guardian reported. He said intelligence had expected 200,000 demonstrators nationwide, but more than 500,000 turned out. Police numbers were at times inadequate to deal with rioters and looters on the fringes of the protests, he said.
Nuñez said he offered his resignation to President Emmanuel Macron because he felt responsible for what happened. Macron refused it and instead called for steps to make the planning and intelligence failures transparent, according to The Guardian. In a televised address on Sunday, Macron criticised the violence and said local authorities would be able to ban some demonstrations in the coming days.
The unrest also disrupted the Louvre Museum on Monday: protesters blocked its entrances in support of the student movement and against what they called police repression, preventing it from opening as scheduled, The Guardian reported.
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Sources and context
- French PM says could declare state of emergency over unrest 'if needed'CNA, reporting sourced to AFP
- French prime minister calls for ‘local and partial’ curfews after riotsThe Guardian
AI-assisted article checked against the listed sources. NewsJaws did not conduct interviews or attend the reported events.