France’s PM calls for curfews as nation grapples with unrest

The French prime minister called for localised curfews on Monday, as protesters blocked the entrance to the Louvre in Paris and authorities scrambled to stem public discontent that over the weekend saw mass cost-of-living protests spill over into some of the worst street violence in recent years.

Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu huddled with ministers in a crisis meeting after the interior minister said the police “had lost control” during the weekend’s unrest.

With the Yellow Vests movement, which organised the weekend’s rallies, calling for a new round of protests next Saturday, Lecornu called for regional authorities to impose “partial” and “localised” curfews to protect businesses after hundreds of shops were damaged and looted.

“I’m absolutely determined to restore public order”, he vowed, adding that the government was ready to impose a state of emergency “if needed”.