Jakarta, ThedailyID — France has introduced curfews in several cities, including Paris, after demonstrations escalated into violence and looting. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu ordered local authorities to impose restrictions where necessary to restore order and protect businesses.
In a post on X, Lecornu said local prefects would decide where curfews were needed. They would coordinate with mayors to determine the appropriate measures.
According to announcements from his office, restrictions were scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, October 19 and 20, 2026. The measures covered Paris, Bordeaux, Lille, and Nice, although the rules varied by location.
In Paris, authorities imposed a curfew in two areas targeted by looters over the weekend. These included Place de la République in eastern Paris and the Châtelet–Les Halles district. The restrictions ran from 11 p.m. on Monday until 6 a.m. on Tuesday.
Authorities also banned public gatherings in both areas from 8 p.m. on Monday.
Meanwhile, Lyon imposed movement restrictions in its city centre from 9 p.m. Monday until 6 a.m. Tuesday. Some areas also faced bans on public gatherings beginning at 6 p.m.
In Nice, the curfew applied to unaccompanied minors in the city centre from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. Similar restrictions for unaccompanied minors took effect in Lille and the northern towns of Douai, Wattignies, and Denain from 8 p.m. Monday until 6 a.m. Tuesday.
The latest unrest erupted on Saturday, October 17, during a new wave of demonstrations involving students. Some protesters set fires, looted shops, and vandalized buildings, including government property. BBC reporters also witnessed clashes between demonstrators and police.
Authorities arrested more than 1,200 people during the unrest.
The demonstrations initially began in late September, when students from suburban areas protested poor education conditions and a lack of teachers. However, the movement later spread to other regions and groups, with rising living costs becoming another major grievance.
The curfews mark the government’s latest effort to contain the unrest as protests expand beyond their original education-focused demands.
