France’s far right seizes the moment as rioting stuns the country

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More protests could be in store. High school and university student organizations called for more demonstrations Thursday and Saturday. The National High School Student Coordination group urged young people to “take to the streets” and backed continued blockades and demonstrations. A group of activists seeking to revive the 2018 “yellow vest” movement against perceived social injustices also announced nationwide demonstrations planned for Saturday under the slogan “Macron must go.”Violence echoes riots that shook France in the past decadeThe damage was comparable to the yellow vest protests at their peak, said Sebastian Roché, a research professor at the Sciences Po Grenoble political institute who studies policing. The movement, initially driven by opposition to fuel tax increases, brought repeated demonstrations against Macron’s government. Some demonstrations turned violent, with cars burned, shops looted and the Arc de Triomphe vandalized during clashes in Paris. “In terms of destruction and damage, it is probably close to the first two weekends of December 2018,” Roché said.

The curfew will be in effect from 11 p.m. Monday until 6 a.m. Tuesday. In addition, gatherings and demonstrations are banned from 8 p.m., the Paris police said. Police officers stand behind a fire near Place de la Republique following an unauthorised demonstration, central Paris, on October 18, 2026. MATTHIEU RONDEL/AFP via Getty ImagesEarlier Monday, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu had called for “very limited” and “localized” curfews. In northern France, local authorities imposed a curfew for children and teenagers under age 18 in several cities, including Lille, starting from Monday and for the next two days from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Nice, on the French Riviera, also imposed an overnight curfew for minors from 9 p.m. Lecornu defended police handling of the unrest, saying that “despite scenes of severe violence and extensive property damage, no one was killed, and that is a miracle.”He said that details of the curfews would be announced later Monday after consultations with mayors. Mass protests in France are often tainted by violence on the fringes of otherwise peaceful marches, leading to clashes with police.

BySYLVIE CORBET Monday, October 19, 2026 5:24PMOn Sunday, groups of people set fires to trash bins, bicycles and other objects in the streets and looted businesses in Paris. PARIS -- The Champions League showpiece between Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona will go ahead as planned on Tuesday in Paris, the French interior minister confirmed despite violent weekend protests. Many French citizens have been left shocked by the images of violence that have drawn worldwide attention and highlighted the country's tense social climate. On Monday, French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said he instructed prefects to impose “very limited” and “localized” curfews in cities to prevent more rioting and looting. The violence targeted city halls, other public buildings and hundreds of businesses across the country, leading to more than 2,000 arrests. Tuesday's match between PSG and Barcelona at the Parc des Princes will require a robust security deployment, with police forces already strained following weeks of student protests. In May, Paris police detained dozens of people after violence disrupted celebrations of PSG's second Champions League title and a group tried to storm a police station.

PARIS -- French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu says he has instructed prefects to impose “very limited” and “localized” curfews in cities to prevent more rioting and looting, following this weekend's violence that notably targeted city halls, other public buildings and hundreds of businesses across the country. Speaking after an emergency meeting with top government officials, Lecornu said “on Saturday, despite scenes of severe violence and extensive property damage, no one was killed, and that is a miracle” as he defended the work of police officers faced with violent groups of people. Lecornu said details of the areas to be placed under curfew will be provided later Monday. The instructions come as Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez offered his resignation on Sunday but President Emmanuel Macron asked him to stay to respond to police needs in an emergency situation. Macron refused Laurent Nuñez's resignation “given the need for continued command of law enforcement in the current context,” Macron's office said in a statement Monday.

On Sunday, groups of people set fires to trash bins, bicycles and other objects in the streets and looted businesses in Paris. BySYLVIE CORBET Monday, October 19, 2026 5:24PMPARIS -- The Champions League showpiece between Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona will go ahead as planned on Tuesday in Paris, the French interior minister confirmed despite violent weekend protests. Many French citizens have been left shocked by the images of violence that have drawn worldwide attention and highlighted the country's tense social climate. On Monday, French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said he instructed prefects to impose “very limited” and “localized” curfews in cities to prevent more rioting and looting. The violence targeted city halls, other public buildings and hundreds of businesses across the country, leading to more than 2,000 arrests. Tuesday's match between PSG and Barcelona at the Parc des Princes will require a robust security deployment, with police forces already strained following weeks of student protests. In May, Paris police detained dozens of people after violence disrupted celebrations of PSG's second Champions League title and a group tried to storm a police station.