France enforces night curfews amid escalating protests.

Paris and Northern cities grapple with unrest over rising costs.

France has imposed night curfews in Paris and several northern cities after a weekend of violent demonstrations over soaring living costs. The decision, announced by Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, follows protests that spiralled into widespread destruction, forcing authorities to tighten security measures.

Government Response and Curfew Measures

Curfews will run from 8:00 pm to 6:00 am in four northern cities, including Lille, while Paris has restricted protests from 21:00 GMT. Lecornu emphasized his determination to restore order and did not rule out declaring a state of emergency if violence persists. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez offered his resignation after admitting police had lost control, but President Emmanuel Macron rejected it, acknowledging shortcomings in the government’s response despite deploying 60,000 officers nationwide.

Scale of Violence and Arrests

Initially peaceful rallies quickly descended into chaos. Protesters blocked the Louvre Museum, set fire to vehicles, looted shops, and attacked public buildings. Authorities reported more than 2,500 arrests, with nearly 1,000 police officers injured. Protesters also suffered injuries, including one demonstrator who lost a hand to a police grenade. Business damage is estimated at hundreds of millions of euros and affects around 3,000 shops.

Economic Pressures Driving Anger

The unrest reflects deep frustration over rising costs. Diesel prices have surged nearly 40% since March, petrol has climbed 25%, and food prices have risen 25% over the past five years. These increases have fuelled public anger ahead of France’s April and May presidential elections, where far‑right candidate Marine Le Pen is gaining momentum. The government has accused ultra‑left groups of exploiting the unrest to bolster far‑left leader Jean‑Luc Mélenchon.

International and European Reactions

The European Union condemned the violence but stressed the importance of protecting peaceful protest. Germany updated its travel advisory, warning of further unrest, while China urged citizens to exercise caution. Meanwhile, similar demonstrations erupted across Europe: clashes in Milan, tear gas in Brussels, and encampments in Madrid and Lisbon protesting housing costs.

Outlook

With organizers calling for fresh protests next weekend, France faces mounting pressure to balance public order with democratic freedoms. As Macron denounced the “unbridled violence,” the government’s challenge is to address economic grievances while preventing further escalation.