Paris police issued overnight curfews in Place de la République and Les Halles following weekend riots. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez offered his resignation, which President Macron refused.
Paris police announced on Monday that they have issued an overnight curfew in two areas of the French capital. The measure is intended "to protect people and property from the violence and looting" following unrest that occurred over the weekend.
The police statement specified that the orders ban gatherings and demonstrations. The curfew prohibits anyone from entering or remaining around the Place de la République, where rioting took place on Saturday, and the shopping neighborhood of Les Halles, which has been subject to looting.
According to the police statement, the curfew will be in effect from 11 p.m. Monday until 6 a.m. Tuesday. Additionally, gatherings and demonstrations are banned from 8 p.m., according to the Somerset County Gazette.
The curfews follow instructions from French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, who said he had directed prefects to impose "very limited" and "localised" curfews in cities to prevent more rioting and looting. Speaking after an emergency meeting with top government officials, Lecornu stated, "on Saturday, despite scenes of severe violence and extensive property damage, no-one was killed, and that is a miracle."
The unrest has led to political fallout within the French government. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez offered his resignation on Sunday. However, French President Emmanuel Macron refused the resignation "given the need for continued command of law enforcement in the current context," according to a statement from the French leader’s office.
Macron instructed Nunez "to take all necessary steps to ensure full transparency about the failures in planning and intelligence gathering that led to the violence." The President also asked for the introduction of "new policing tactics on the ground as quickly as possible" to put an end to violent events.
Nunez told France Inter radio, "I submitted my resignation because I am responsible for everything that is happening." He acknowledged that authorities had "lost control" in some major cities on Saturday, stating, "You can’t look shopkeepers in the eye when hundreds of businesses have been looted and say: ‘We haven’t lost control in some of these major cities.’ Obviously."
Authorities estimated on Monday that at least 3,000 businesses were damaged or looted in several cities during the weekend violence. At least 2,400 people were arrested across the country. The violence notably targeted city halls, other public buildings, and hundreds of businesses. In Limoges, central France, flames engulfed the 19th-century City Hall, causing its roof to collapse and nearly destroying the building.
In other regions, local authorities imposed additional restrictions. In northern France, curfews for children and teenagers under age 18 were imposed in several cities, including Lille, from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. for two days starting Monday. Nice also imposed an overnight curfew for minors from 9 p.m. In Marseille, the prefect banned any protest or other gathering from noon to 8 p.m. Monday.
Jordan Bardella, president of the far-right National Rally, criticized the government's handling of the situation. "The government has failed, the head of state has failed in his essential duty of protecting the French people," he told reporters at party headquarters. He added, "I call on the people of France now, beyond their right to protest, to use their voting power."
Ouri Zagoury, owner of a video game shop near Paris’ Place de la Republique, described the chaos to the media. "There were so many people coming in and out. And even though I called the police, they said not to intervene, that they would come, but they never did, which is another problem," the shop owner said.
The imposition of curfews and the resignation offer from the Interior Minister highlight the severity of the unrest, which recalls the riots of 2023 and the yellow vest movement of 2018. The government's refusal to accept Nunez's resignation suggests a strategy to maintain continuity in law enforcement command during the crisis, while political opponents leverage the disorder to criticize the administration's ability to maintain public order.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
The day's checked news, by email
One short email a day with the top stories. Free, and you can unsubscribe in one click.
Or follow for the latest news:
No comments yet. Start the discussion.
Iran-backed Houthi rebels struck a military camp in southern Yemen with ballistic missiles, killing at least 53 recruits and wounding 200 others, according to local authorities.
Iran-backed Houthi rebels struck a Yemeni government military camp in Shabwa province with ballistic missiles, killing at least 53 soldiers and wounding 200 recruits.