France plans more curfews after night of relative calm

PARIS

A car burns at Republique square during a protest against rising living costs, joining students’ grievances, in Paris, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. (AP Photo)

France will decide on additional curfews where necessary on Oct. 20, Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said, after restrictions helped restore calm following violent protests over the rising cost of living.

"Targeted curfews have contributed to calm overnight," Lecornu wrote on X, adding that further measures would be decided by local prefects in coordination with mayors.

Partial curfews were introduced in Paris and several other cities on Oct. 19 after weekend demonstrations involving around half a million people descended into some of the worst street violence in France in recent years.

In Paris, restrictions were imposed around Place de la République and the Les Halles shopping district from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m., while demonstrations were banned in designated areas from 8 p.m.

The protests, which began with student demands for better school conditions before widening to include anger over soaring living costs, saw masked groups clash with police, loot shops and set fire to vehicles and public buildings.

More than 2,500 people have been taken into custody and nearly 1,000 members of the security forces injured. Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin said 67 people had been jailed.

Interior Minister Laurent Nunez acknowledged that police had lost control during the unrest and offered his resignation, which President Emmanuel Macron refused.

Lecornu has not ruled out declaring a state of emergency but said localized curfews were better suited to the situation.

The unrest also disrupted tourism in Paris, where a small group of student protesters blocked access to the Louvre museum on Oct. 19, forcing its closure.

Organizers have called for another round of demonstrations on Oct. 24, raising concerns about renewed violence ahead of France's presidential election next year.