State of emergency is on the agenda after the protests in France: Curfew order from the Prime Minister

Political and social tension continues in France following the protests held across the country over the weekend. The government held an extraordinary meeting following the events in which many workplaces were looted, public buildings were set on fire, and clashes occurred between demonstrators and police.

Making a statement after the crisis meeting held on Monday, October 19, French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu stated that all necessary measures will be taken to restore public order.

Lecornu said that the option of declaring a state of emergency is on the table, but under the current conditions, regional curfews are considered a more appropriate method.

Prime Minister Lecornu emphasized that they are determined to restore public order at the press conference he held after the violence in the country.

Stating that the declaration of a state of emergency is a decision that could have serious consequences, Lecornu said:

"The state of emergency is an extremely serious measure. Of course, we can implement it if necessary. However, in the current situation, curfews and the implementation of these bans seem more appropriate to the conditions we are facing."

Prime Minister Lecornu announced that he had instructed regional administrators to impose partial and local curfews in some cities.

Stating that the measures aim to protect workplaces, especially in regions where looting and violence occurred over the weekend, Lecornu did not share details about which cities and at what times the bans would be implemented.

He stated that a general curfew covering the entire capital Paris is not on the agenda.

French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez submitted his resignation to President Emmanuel Macron after the security forces were inadequate in the violence that occurred over the weekend.

However, Macron did not accept the resignation, stating that continuity in the management of security institutions should be maintained during the current crisis.

Speaking to France Inter radio, Nuñez stated that he was responsible for what happened and explained the reason for his decision to resign.

Nuñez acknowledged that security forces had lost control in some major cities.

The Minister of Internal Affairs stated that the authorities cannot say that they did not lose control in an environment where hundreds of workplaces were looted.

According to the statement of the Paris Prosecutor's Office, 855 people were caught in connection with the events that took place on Saturday, and 557 of them were detained.

While it was stated that 433 of those detained were adults, the detention period of 278 people was extended.

It was reported that the investigations focused especially on store lootings around the Champs-Elysees Street, Châtelet, Saint-Lazare and République.

On Sunday, it was reported that 208 more people were caught and 145 of them were detained.

Thus, the number of people detained in Paris in two days reached 702. This number does not reflect the total number of detentions across the country, but rather the data announced by the Paris Prosecutor's Office.

The Yellow Vest movement, which organized mass protests during President Macron's first term in France, also called for demonstrations again.

Representatives of the movement announced that new actions are planned to be held across the country on Saturday, October 24.

Yellow Vests protesting the high cost of living and students protesting the lack of teachers and education conditions came together in weekend demonstrations, increasing the pressure on the government.

The European Union (EU) stated that the right to peaceful demonstration should be protected in France and condemned the incidents of looting, arson and violence.

EU Spokesperson Markus Lammert emphasized that citizens who demonstrate peacefully and people who engage in violent acts should not be evaluated in the same way.

The European Commission is also reportedly in contact with France's media regulator, ARCOM, to combat incitement to violence and manipulation of information on social media platforms.