PARIS (Diya TV) — French authorities imposed overnight curfews in parts of Paris and other cities Monday after weekend rioting damaged thousands of businesses and exposed failures in the police response to nationwide demonstrations.
The restrictions followed protests over rising living costs and poor school conditions. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez acknowledged that authorities had lost control in some cities and offered to resign. President Emmanuel Macron rejected his resignation and ordered him to explain shortcomings in planning and intelligence gathering.
In Paris, police prohibited people from entering or remaining around Place de la République and designated streets near Les Halles between 11 p.m. Monday and 6 a.m. Tuesday. A separate ban on gatherings began at 8 p.m.
Authorities also introduced curfews for minors in several northern cities and Nice. The restrictions varied by location rather than covering entire cities nationwide. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said localized measures were better suited to protecting vulnerable shopping districts, while leaving a state of emergency under consideration.
Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin said more than 2,500 people had been taken into police custody since the weekend. Nearly 1,000 security personnel suffered injuries, according to AFP. Protesters were also injured, including one whose hand was blown off by a police crowd-control grenade.
The Interior Ministry reported that a demonstrator died of cardiac arrest Saturday.
Commerce Minister Serge Papin estimated that at least 3,000 businesses had suffered damage. Lecornu announced short-time work assistance beginning Tuesday and a dedicated support fund for shops facing repair costs and lost revenue. He noted that many retailers had already stocked merchandise for Christmas.
Carrefour chief executive Alexandre Bompard put his company’s repair bill above €10 million, Le Monde reported. Retail representatives warned that prolonged closures would leave businesses paying expenses without sales income and called for faster insurance settlements.
In Limoges, attackers set fire to the city hall, an 1883 building modeled on its Paris counterpart. Flames engulfed the roof within hours. About 7,000 people gathered Sunday evening to condemn the violence, according to the municipal government. Investigators were still identifying those responsible.
The mayors of Paris, Marseille and Lyon jointly criticized the security response, saying sections of their cities appeared to have been left unprotected. Lecornu blamed far-left groups for fueling the unrest; Jean-Luc Mélenchon demanded evidence.
The demonstrations followed four weeks of student protests demanding better high school conditions. Organizers called for another mobilization Saturday, Oct. 24. On Monday, students blocked the Louvre’s entrance, disrupting visitor access.
Digital Minister Anne Le Hénanff also instructed online resale platforms to remove listings for stolen goods and summoned representatives from companies including Vinted and eBay.
French unions separately called for nationwide strikes and rallies Nov. 5.
