Over 550,000 people took part in protests across France on Saturday. At least 2,397 people were arrested.
French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said that partial curfews would be introduced in some areas starting on Monday evening following incidents of looting during weekend protests.
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He had asked French prefects to implement “a number of partial curfews as early as this evening,” describing the disorder as “very localized in urban centers.”
Lecornu said a state of emergency would be declared “if necessary,” but added that curfews “appear to be more appropriate.”
“There is no question of allowing the looting to become established,” he said, adding that the Interior Ministry would release a detailed map of the areas concerned during Monday afternoon.
Partial unemployment measures would be activated from Tuesday for shopkeepers affected by damage and looting, Lecornu said.
The government of President Emmanuel Macron would also provide public funding to support affected businesses, he said, while stressing that such assistance “makes no sense if we are not capable of restoring order as quickly as possible.”
French Trade Minister Serge Papin estimated that at least 3,000 businesses had been affected during weekend protests.
A real look into what is actually happening with the MILLIONS of protestors across France.
And even at this very well behaved protest it is the Police using Tear Gas and trying to get a reaction. pic.twitter.com/VowJqsoqIr
— BladeoftheSun (@BladeoftheS) October 18, 2026
Daytime Gatherings and Demonstrations Banned in Marseille
On Sunday, the police prefecture of Bouches-du-Rhone informed that gatherings and demonstrations throughout Marseille will be banned from noon to 8 p.m. local time Monday.
Local authorities recorded more than 30,000 people involved in looting in Marseille on Saturday during demonstrations, according to French news channel BFM TV.
In Paris, the entrance to the Louvre Museum was blocked by student protesters on Monday morning, French daily Le Parisien reported, citing the museum’s management and two trade unions. According to the trade union General Confederation of Labour, the museum would remain closed at least until noon.
Over 550,000 people took part in protests across France on Saturday. At least 2,397 people were arrested during the protests, which were marred by violence. According to the Interior Ministry, 997 police officers and gendarmes were injured, seven of them seriously.
Since September, France has witnessed multiple rounds of mass student protests demanding better educational conditions.
teleSUR/ JF
Source: Xinhua
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