French prime minister considers curfews as Macron rejects minister's resignation
French authorities consider local curfews while President Emmanuel Macron rejects his interior minister's resignation following violent unrest across the country.
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has instructed regional authorities to consider "local and partial" curfews following nationwide civil unrest over the cost of living and declining public services. The announcement came after an emergency cabinet meeting on Monday, during which officials acknowledged that police had "lost control" in several areas over the weekend.
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron refused to accept the resignation tendered by Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez in the wake of the riots. Total arrests across France have reached over 2,400 as security forces continue responding to widespread clashes, arson, and looting. Lecornu stated he remains "fully resolved to restore public order" through targeted security measures.
Sources: BBC News, Bloomberg, France24, STV News, The Guardian.
Sources
- Bloomberg — France Struggles to Contain Fallout From Nationwide Protests
- France24 — Paris police clash with demonstrators and looters as protests continue
- BBC News — France's government under pressure after weekend of widespread violence
- STV News — Macron refuses resignation of France’s interior minister after weekend riots
- The Guardian — French prime minister calls for ‘local and partial’ curfews after riots
Earlier coverage
- Oct 19, 2026, 09:30 AM UTCMacron condemns 'unbridled violence' as France assesses protest fallout
- Oct 19, 2026, 04:30 AM UTCFrench government holds crisis meeting following weekend of violent protests
- Oct 18, 2026, 09:00 PM UTCMacron calls for calm after violent cost-of-living protests sweep France
- Oct 18, 2026, 03:00 PM UTCFrance faces civil unrest as cost of living protests turn violent