France has announced emergency curfews in several cities after violent protests caused widespread destruction. The unrest has increased pressure on President Emmanuel Macron’s government.
Thousands of demonstrators protested against rising living costs and poor public services. However, several demonstrations turned violent over the weekend.
France Imposes Curfews as Violence Spreads
Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu announced partial curfews in Paris, Lille, Lyon, and other affected cities.
In Paris, authorities imposed an overnight curfew starting at 11 pm. Officials also banned demonstrations after 8 pm.
Lecornu warned that the government could declare a state of emergency if violence continued.
Meanwhile, protesters blocked access to the Louvre Museum, forcing its temporary closure.
Over 2,500 Arrested, Thousands of Shops Damaged
Nearly 500,000 people participated in demonstrations across France on Saturday.
Masked groups later attacked police, damaged public buildings, and looted businesses.
Authorities arrested more than 2,500 people. Nearly 1,000 security personnel suffered injuries during the unrest.
Officials reported damage to approximately 3,000 shops, causing losses worth hundreds of millions of euros.
Macron Rejects Interior Minister’s Resignation
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez offered to resign following criticism of the police response.
However, President Macron rejected his resignation and demanded stronger security measures.
The government had deployed around 60,000 officers to control the demonstrations.
Meanwhile, several European countries issued travel warnings as concerns about further violence increased.
The unrest comes months before France’s presidential election, adding pressure on political leaders.
Protest organizers have announced further demonstrations, raising fears of renewed clashes.
