France Considers Further Curfews Amidst Cost of Living Protests

According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, France’s Prime Minister Gabriel Attal stated on Tuesday that the government is prepared to impose further curfew restrictions in various regions of the nation. This comes in response to the violence that erupted during weekend protests against the escalating cost of living.

Attal conveyed via a message on the social media platform X that targeted nighttime curfews have aided in restoring calm, and that additional restrictions would be announced on Tuesday evening if deemed necessary. He indicated that decisions on this matter would be made by local prefects in coordination with mayors.

Limited curfew measures were initiated on Monday evening in areas including Paris and Lyon. Police and gendarmerie sources reported that the night was largely peaceful, although incidents did occur during gatherings on the island of Martinique.

Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin reported that 2,513 individuals have been arrested in connection with the weekend’s disturbances, with 67 individuals taken into custody and dozens of legal cases initiated. Speaking to news channels CNews and Europe 1, he emphasized that declaring a state of emergency is not required, asserting that authorities can restore order through decisive action without restricting the freedoms of the entire population.

Meanwhile, Yael Braun-Pivet, President of the French National Assembly, urged the government to address the protesters’ demands, noting that hundreds of thousands had participated peacefully. She cautioned that concerns regarding public order should not overshadow budget discussions and the protesters’ grievances.

Patrick Martin, President of the Employers’ Association of France, accused the government of failing to maintain order and cited initial government estimates indicating that at least 3,000 businesses were impacted by the unrest. Roland Lescure, the French Minister of Economy, announced that support measures would be introduced to assist affected businesses and artisans, facilitating the swift resumption of their activities.

In parallel developments, a coordinating group for the Yellow Vest movement has called for another demonstration on Saturday, October 24 (November 2). The original sources for this report include Anatolia News Agency and Mehr News Agency.