The Prime Minister of France, Élisabeth Borne, announced that local authorities have been instructed to establish "local" curfew regulations starting Monday to prevent scenes of rioting and looting. This decision was made following widespread unrest in Paris and other cities during mass protests over the past weekend.
Purpose of the Curfew Regulations
Borne stated that the aim of this action is to "protect people as well as property and businesses." She added that these regulations should be "specific" and "local," as the destruction occurs in specific areas rather than being widespread.
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Financial Support for Businesses
Youth Minister, Jean-Didier Berger, told a local news network that this means restricting nighttime access to specific streets or areas with a high concentration of businesses. Additionally, a "special support fund" will be established to provide financial assistance to nearly 3,000 local businesses affected by the recent unrest.
These decisions were made following an emergency meeting at the French Ministry of the Interior in response to widespread riots that occurred across the country on Saturday. While Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, attempted to alleviate public concerns with a speech during peak viewing hours, this speech was criticized across the political spectrum as being insufficient. The Minister of the Interior, Laurent Nunez, resigned following the recent unrest, but Macron refused to accept it.
Claims of Mismanagement and Handling of Protesters
The government is now trying to counter claims of mismanagement of the situation and prevent it from turning into a sustained movement like the Yellow Vests in 2018, especially with the presidential elections approaching in the spring, where Marine Le Pen, the far-right leader, is expected to do well.
A website claiming to represent the Yellow Vests movement has issued calls for protests next Saturday. Additionally, the country's major unions are organizing strikes and demonstrations on November 5 to protest the government's proposed budget, which includes €43 billion in cuts.
While secondary schools are closed for holidays, some students are still protesting. The Louvre Museum is also closed due to a strike by students from the university of art history located within the palace.
The responsibility for the recent destruction remains a topic of discussion. While foreign leaders such as Donald Trump, the President of the United States, and Viktor Orbán, the Prime Minister of Hungary, have unfoundedly attributed the riots to migrants, Borne and the government have pointed to "far-left" movements and cited analyses from French intelligence services.
Borne and right-wing politicians have also accused Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the presidential candidate from the left, of playing a "significant" role in a "far-left network" in inciting the unrest. Mélenchon has repeatedly supported student protesters and denied any responsibility for the violence, blaming the government for the current situation.
Borne also stated that she will hold a meeting with party leaders and presidential candidates to discuss how to ensure the security of electoral activities, including rallies and visits across the country, and to hear their proposals for reforming the tactics of the French police.
