Weekend protests turn violent

Protests against the rising cost of living drew at least 550,000 people across France on Saturday, 17 October, according to the authorities. In several cities the marches turned into clashes with police, looting and public buildings set alight or vandalised, including the town hall of Limoges. Justice minister Gérald Darmanin said the national anti-terrorism prosecutor was weighing what to do after the Limoges fire. The toll includes two dead and several seriously injured, two of whom lost a hand. Nearly 1,000 members of the security forces and protesters were injured, according to the authorities. Authorities report 2,331 people held in police custody and dozens of custody orders, while the government says at least 3,000 shops were vandalised or looted.

Protesters on 17 October (at least)550,000

People held by police2,331

Shops vandalised or looted (at least)3,000

Protesters on 17 October (at least)

550000

People held by police

2331

Shops vandalised or looted (at least)

3000

Data from the article text

Curfews in several cities

Prime minister Sébastien Lecornu convened the interministerial crisis unit on Monday, 19 October, and asked prefects to impose partial, localised curfews. He did not rule out a state of emergency 'if necessary', but said curfews seemed more suitable, arguing that the disorder was confined to urban centres. In Paris the police ordered a curfew from 23:00 to 6:00 around Place de la République and the streets leading into Les Halles, applying to all residents rather than only minors. In Nice a curfew applies to minors in the city centre from 21:00 to 6:00, a measure taken by the Alpes-Maritimes prefecture and announced by mayor Eric Ciotti on X. In Lyon parts of the Presqu'île face a curfew from 21:00 to 6:00, and gatherings in public streets are banned from 18:00 to 21:00, while Marseille bans gatherings and demonstrations from 12:00 to 20:00. In the Nord department, Lille, Douai, Wattignies and Denain face curfews from 20:00 to 6:00 in parts of each town, with the consent of local mayors.

Interior minister, president and the Louvre

Interior minister Laurent Nuñez said police had 'lost control' in some cities and cited a 'lack of foresight' in the preparations. He said he had submitted his resignation to President Emmanuel Macron because he felt responsible for what had happened, but Macron rejected it, citing the need for continuity of command over the security forces. Macron acknowledged shortcomings in how the protests were handled, though he had left France on 18 October for a three-day trip to Gulf countries focused on energy cooperation and fuel supplies. On Monday, 19 October, about fifty students from the École du Louvre blocked the museum from 9:00 in solidarity with high school students, according to the museum management and unions. The union CGT said the museum would stay closed at least until noon, and the date matched the first anniversary of the theft of the Crown jewels.

Political reaction and next protests

Jordan Bardella, president of the Rassemblement National, said the government and the head of state had failed in their duty to protect the French people and urged voters to use their ballot. Marine Le Pen leads the polls ahead of the presidential election, which is six months away. Lecornu blamed an 'extreme-left movement' seeking deep chaos in the country and suggested a wider network could try to contest the timing of the presidential election itself. The Kremlin said France and Italy were in a serious crisis close to chaos. Donald Trump, speaking at a rally in Kansas, said the United States would have to leave Europe if it succumbed to the migrant invasion, referring to the protests in France. The gilet jaunes coordination has called a second round of protest for Saturday, 24 October.