France’s prime minister calls for localized curfews in cities to curb rioting and looting - CTV News

PARIS (AP) — French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu says he has instructed prefects, the government’s regional representatives, to impose “very limited” and “localized” curfews to prevent more rioting and looting, following weekend violence that targeted city halls, other public buildings and thousands 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. A fire consisting of bicycles and furniture caused by vandals at Rue Reaumur during the national demonstration on Saturday to protest against the high cost of living the loss of social rights and the lack of resources in National Education in Paris.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Hundreds of protesters gathered again Sunday at the Place de la République in Paris amid a heavy police presence. Officers used tear gas as tensions flared sporadically. “The right to protest is a fundamental right. Deliberately and collectively sowing disorder through violence is not,” Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez wrote on X, citing the looting of hundreds of businesses in cities including Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Bordeaux. About 550,000 people took part in protests across France, according to authorities, while organizers put the figure at about 800,000. Demonstrators answered calls from a labor union, student organizations and activists hoping to revive the “yellow vest” movement, which emerged in 2018 to protest social injustice. Mass protests in France are often marred by violence on the fringes of otherwise peaceful marches, leading to clashes with police. The arrest tally reported Sunday approached the nearly 2,000 recorded nationwide during a single day of yellow vest protests in December 2018. One person died of a heart attack, Paris police said in a statement, without providing details. The Paris prosecutor’s office said it was investigating.