France Extends Curfews and Boosts Police Deployment Amid Ongoing Unrest
The French government has prolonged overnight curfews in several cities and announced a large police deployment as protests over education and living costs continue.
Paris – French authorities have extended overnight curfews in areas such as Place de la République and Les Halles, and similar restrictions have been applied in Lyon and other cities, following a weekend of riots that saw buildings set ablaze and thousands of businesses looted.
Prime Minister S\u00e9bastien Lecornu said a "massive" police deployment will be carried out on Tuesday ahead of scheduled demonstrations on Oct. 24. The announcement came after Interior Minister Laurent Nu\u00e9nz acknowledged that officials had underestimated the scale of the unrest and lost control in some locations during Saturday's protests.
Justice Minister G\u00e9rald Darmanin reported that more than 2,500 people had been taken into police custody by Monday evening.
In a Sunday address, President Emmanuel Macron distinguished between peaceful demonstrators calling for better schools and working conditions and individuals who turned the protests into violent riots. He said the government would listen to legitimate demands while holding those responsible for the violence accountable, attributing the disturbances to "radical far-left groups" and "criminals."
The protests, which began in mid-September with high school students and teachers demanding improvements to overcrowded classrooms and deteriorating facilities, have broadened to include trade unions and Yellow Vest activists protesting rising living costs and cuts to public services. In response, the Ministry of National Education announced on Oct. 8 that more than 3,000 substitute teachers would be deployed to high schools in need, and several hundred additional hires were authorized.
France faces significant fiscal challenges, with public debt near 3.6 trillion euros (about 119% of GDP) and a projected deficit of 5.4% of GDP for this year. The government aims to reduce the deficit to 5% by 2027, but rising interest payments are expected to limit available resources for public services. Political gridlock persists, as the ruling coalition lacks a clear majority in parliament, and the budget was adopted after a contentious process that survived two no-confidence motions.
An Ipsos poll conducted Oct. 7-8 showed President Macron's approval rating at 15%, while a September poll placed far-right leader Marine Le Pen ahead of other contenders with 33%-35% support. The next presidential election is scheduled for April, as Macron is ineligible for a third term.