France imposes overnight curfews in areas including Paris amid “violent protests”

[Financial News] As student protests over poor educational conditions escalated into large-scale violent unrest denouncing a lack of public-sector investment and high prices, the French government under Emmanuel Macron imposed nighttime curfews in major cities including Paris. French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said he would not rule out declaring a state of emergency.
According to the French news agency AFP and other outlets, Prime Minister Lecornu said he had sent guidance to local authorities on introducing curfews as early as that day, following an emergency-response meeting on the 19th (local time). “The curfews will be partial and limited to specific areas,” he said, adding, “Local authorities will decide whether to impose them.” He explained, “The purpose of these curfews is to protect shops as well as people.”
Local authorities subsequently announced curfew measures. Paris police imposed a curfew around Place de la République and the Les Halles commercial district from 11 p.m. that night until 6 a.m. on the 20th. Partial curfews were imposed in four northern cities—Lille, Douai, Wattignies and Denain—from 8 p.m. until 6 a.m. on the 20th, while Nice decided to ban minors from the city center. Marseille in the south also banned public gatherings from noon to 8 p.m.
Regarding the prolonged nationwide protests, Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin said, “Around 2,330 people were detained by police over the weekend, 70% of them adults.” Commerce Minister Serge Papin explained, “At least 3,000 stores have been damaged, and the losses could amount to hundreds of millions of euros.” The Retail Federation said that “nearly 3,000 stores were damaged over the past weekend,” adding, “The retail sector has once again found itself on the front lines of the turmoil, already weakened by a succession of crises.”
Despite this, the protests appear likely to continue. The Yellow Vests movement announced another protest, saying it would launch “Act II” this coming Saturday, the 24th. The movement, which began in November 2018 to protest soaring prices and social inequality, has already shaken France for several months in the past. Participants in the current student protests urged the Yellow Vests to join them, and they did take part in last weekend’s demonstrations. With major French labor unions also announcing strikes and protests for the 5th of next month, concerns are growing that large-scale disruption could follow.
The European Union (EU) criticized the violence as “unacceptable,” while commenting that “the legitimate right to protest peacefully in France must be protected.”
[email protected] Hong Chae-wan Reporter