Overnight curfews have been imposed by French authorities in parts of central Paris and other cities, following a weekend of riots and looting across France. Police in Paris stated a curfew would be in force between 23:00 local time and 06:00 in Place de la République and the Les Halles shopping area. A ban on unauthorised gatherings has also been implemented in several other parts of the city centre.
Partial curfews, which variously restrict the movement of young people and gatherings, were announced for cities including Marseille, Bordeaux, Nice, Lyon, and Lille. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez admitted police had "lost control" in some cities, though President Emmanuel Macron rejected his resignation.
The protests, which began last month with students demanding better school conditions, have escalated to include a broader range of concerns, with trade unions and various protest groups joining demonstrations this weekend. Officials reported more than 2,500 arrests and approximately 1,000 police officers injured. The head of France's Chambers of Commerce and Industry estimates damage from the riots at "hundreds of millions of euros", with over 2,000 businesses directly affected.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced that local mayors are being given the power to implement curfews "where they need". He also stated the government would set aside money to help affected areas recover, with funding to be recovered from those responsible for the violence. Lecornu did not rule out imposing a state of emergency.