Paris, October 19,2026: French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said on Monday he had asked local authorities to impose partial curfews following a weekend of violent protests, as the government sought to restore public order across the country.
Speaking to reporters, Lecornu said he was “fully resolved to restoring public order” and warned that the government could declare a state of emergency if necessary. However, he said partial curfews appeared to be a more appropriate measure at this stage.
He did not identify the cities where the restrictions would be introduced or specify their exact terms, but ruled out imposing a blanket curfew across Paris.
“These curfews must be local and partial. It is out of the question to put all of Paris under curfew,” he said.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez, speaking at the same press conference, said there were no plans to cancel Tuesday evening’s football match between Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona.
Meanwhile, mayors of France’s largest cities called on the government to explain what they described as inadequate preparation by security forces ahead of the unrest.
Their demands came as the country assessed the damage caused by a weekend of rioting and looting, which followed weeks of student demonstrations punctuated by occasional outbreaks of street violence.
The unrest has added to pressure on the government six months before France’s next presidential election, amid concerns over a weak economy and rising public debt.
Authorities are now weighing targeted restrictions and other measures to contain further violence while seeking to restore calm.
