French prime minister empowers mayors to impose partial curfews after weekend riots
After widespread unrest that left over 2,500 arrests and dozens of injuries, France's prime minister gave mayors authority to set partial curfews and announced compensation measures for damaged property.
France's prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, announced that local mayors can now impose partial curfews in areas where they deem it necessary, following a weekend of riots and looting that affected dozens of cities. The move follows Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez's admission that police had "lost control" in some locations, a statement made after his resignation offer was rejected by President Emmanuel Macron.
More than 2,500 people were detained and around 1,000 police officers were injured during the disturbances, which began with student protests over school conditions and expanded to include grievances about fuel prices, the cost of living and public services. Demonstrators clashed with police, and one protester reportedly lost a hand after a crowd-control grenade exploded, according to AFP.
Lecornu said the government would allocate funds to help communities rebuild and that those responsible for property damage would be required to pay for repairs. He also introduced a partial unemployment benefit for individuals unable to work because of the unrest.
"There will be a law that will be put in place to find ways of making sure that those who have damaged properties will have to pay," the prime minister said.
The interior ministry reported that about 200 investigators are reviewing CCTV footage to identify possible ringleaders. While Nuñez attempted to resign on Sunday, the Élysée Palace declined his resignation, citing the need for continuity in law-enforcement command.
The Chamber of Commerce and Industry reported that more than 2,000 shops and businesses suffered damage. In cities such as Paris, Marseille and Limoges, rioters set fire to cars, buildings and the historic city hall in Limoges, which collapsed after a blaze. Police used tear gas and stun grenades in response, and protesters threw bottles and rocks.
"It's awful and unbelievable," said a local resident named Gerrard, describing the damage to the Limoges city hall.