Lecornu Calls for Partial Curfews as France Unrest Deepens
France’s prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, has called for “local and partial” curfews after the government admitted police had “lost control” in several places during violent weekend protests. Speaking after an emergency cabinet meeting, he said he was “fully resolved to restore public order”. President Macron turned down his interior minister’s offer to resign.
Tens of thousands of people, angered by rising costs and declining public services, took to the streets across France over the weekend. Lecornu said curfews would be confined to certain areas, such as “symbolic, emblematic places”, rather than whole cities such as Paris; a state of emergency remains available “if deemed necessary”, though he judged partial curfews “more appropriate” for now. The disorder has spilled into the bond market, where French debt sold off on Monday. The test this week is whether targeted measures calm the streets or harden opposition to an already fragile government.