Lecornu said the curfews would go into effect at 8:00 pm and lift at 6:00 am, covering Paris, Lille and three other northern cities. He added that the move follows the interior minister’s claim that police had lost control during Saturday’s demonstrations.
Saturday’s protests, sparked by a surge in fuel and food prices, turned violent in several cities. More than 2,500 arrests were made and nearly 1,000 police officers were wounded, while a demonstrator lost a hand to a crowd‑control grenade.
The unrest also hit the retail sector hard. Serge Papin, small‑business minister, said about 3,000 shops suffered damage, with losses topping hundreds of millions of euros. The Louvre was shut after protesters blocked its glass pyramid entrance.
European leaders condemned the violence. The EU called it unacceptable yet urged protection of peaceful protest rights; Germany warned that further unrest could erupt, prompting a travel advisory update.
At the Louvre, an Australian tourist, 73‑year‑old Pat Boland, watched as a dozen demonstrators blocked the entrance, saying he wanted to stay out of it.
The curfew order will be reviewed after Tuesday, with officials promising a return to normalcy once order is restored.