Why was the French government unprepared for the riots, and how does it intend to get the situation under control?
Starting Monday, school and university students in France went on autumn break. The government hopes for a pause in the protests that have been ongoing since the end of September. However, new major protests are planned for November 5. What course of action might the French government and President Emmanuel Macron take?
Why was the French government not prepared for the riots and how does it intend to get the situation under control?
Following the mass demonstrations on October 17, which ended in riots, arson, and looting of shops, the country's Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, admitting that the situation had gotten out of control, attempted to resign. However, the president did not accept his resignation. Instead, the minister was tasked with developing measures to step up security on the streets of French cities and to hold those responsible for the unrest accountable.
French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu stated on Monday that mayors in certain regions of the country have been granted the authority to introduce partial curfews if necessary.
By evening, it became known that authorities in several cities had exercised this authority. In Paris, a curfew was declared for people of all ages from 23:00 to 06:00 local time in Place de la République and on the streets adjacent to the Les Halles shopping center and a major transport hub.
Demonstrations and mass marches were banned in central Lyon from 22:00 to 06:00. In the centers of Lille and Nice, minors were prohibited from going out onto the streets.
According to Lecornu, local authorities are asking questions about how the police organized their work during the riots. They want to know why the situation got out of control.
The Prime Minister added that criminal charges will be filed against 80 percent of those detained during the riots over the past weekend. He blamed "far-left radicals" for the unrest on the streets.
According to him, the government will allocate funds to restore the damaged areas, and these costs will be imposed on those who caused the riots.
"A law will be passed ensuring that individuals who caused damage to property are held financially accountable," Lecornu said.
In addition, the prime minister announced the creation of a fund to support workers unable to perform their duties due to the riots and looting.
On Sunday, President Emmanuel Macron made a televised address to the nation, calling for national unity and trying to assure the French public that those who committed acts of violence would be punished.