France imposed partial nighttime curfews in multiple cities on Monday to curb riots and looting that erupted during nationwide protests, with Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu stating the measures had “contributed to the calm of the night” and would be extended Tuesday evening “wherever required.”
The curfews, ordered in coordination with local mayors, took effect in parts of Paris, Bordeaux, Nice, Lyon, Lille, Douai, Wattignies and Denain. In Paris, authorities prohibited protests in designated areas from 8 p.m. and imposed a curfew around Place de la République and Les Halles from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Nice restricted minors from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., while Marseille banned demonstrations entirely .
The unrest followed weekend protests over rising living costs and education funding, during which more than 500,000 people marched nationwide. Violence escalated into some of France’s worst street clashes in recent years, with public buildings set ablaze, businesses looted and over 2,500 arrests. Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin vowed an “unrelenting” response, ordering prosecutors to treat cases as organized crime and extending detentions from 48 to 72 hours. At least 3,000 shops were damaged or looted, prompting the government to announce partial unemployment benefits and a special support fund for affected businesses .
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez admitted police had “lost control” in several cities over the weekend. The government also pressured online marketplaces including Vinted and eBay to remove listings of goods suspected of being stolen during the looting. Digital Affairs Minister Anne Le Hénanff said such behavior “will not go unpunished” and demanded immediate removal of suspicious listings .
Lecornu said further curfews would be decided locally by prefects in consultation with mayors, while authorities prepared additional emergency meetings with social media representatives and business leaders to address the fallout .
