French authorities have imposed overnight curfews in parts of central Paris and several other cities after a weekend of rioting and looting. The curfew in Paris runs from 23:00 to 06:00 in Place de la République and the Les Halles shopping area, with bans on unauthorised gatherings across other city-centre zones. Partial curfews have been announced in Marseille, Bordeaux, Nice, Lyon, Lille and other towns.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez acknowledged that police had "lost control" in some cities. More than 2,500 people have been arrested. Police reported about 1,000 officers injured. One demonstrator lost a hand to a police crowd-control grenade, according to AFP.
The protests began last month over school conditions but expanded to include demands about rising fuel prices, the cost of living and deteriorating public services. About 550,000 people demonstrated over the weekend. Rioters, some in black clothing and masks, set fires to cars and buildings and looted shops across Paris, Marseille, Limoges and smaller towns. The 19th-century city hall in Limoges was gutted by fire, its clock tower and roof collapsing.
More than 2,000 shops and other businesses were directly affected. Alain Di Crescenzo, head of France's Chambers of Commerce and Industry, told RTL that damage was estimated at "hundreds of millions of euros". Jean-Luc Chauvin, president of the CCI's Marseille branch, told the BBC that shop owners were in "deep distress" and fear for their survival.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said mayors would be given power to implement curfews where needed. He did not rule out declaring a state of emergency. The government will allocate money for recovery from damage, to be recovered from those responsible for violence. Lecornu announced a law making those who damaged property liable for costs and a partial unemployment fund for those unable to work due to the riots.
Nuñez attempted to resign on Sunday but President Emmanuel Macron refused, citing the need for "continued command of law enforcement". The Élysée Palace said Nuñez should be transparent about what Macron called "intelligence and foresight failings".
Interior Minister Nuñez said 200 investigators were reviewing CCTV footage to identify possible ringleaders. Looted goods have appeared on selling platforms including Vinted, which said it has removed listings and stepped up monitoring of suspicious activity.
Some politicians alleged that the left-wing La France Insoumise party played a role. Lecornu suggested some groups "want to create chaos in our country up until the presidential elections". Party leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who will stand in next year's presidential election, called on Lecornu to "prove his accusation" or "apologise, shut up, and stop stoking disorder".
The US Embassy, along with China and Germany, issued alerts advising citizens to avoid demonstration areas.