New Delhi: France’s Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has asked local authorities to introduce partial curfews following a weekend of violent protests and
looting across the country. He also warned that the government could declare a state of emergency if the situation required it.
Speaking to reports on Monday, Lecornu said he was “fully resolved to restore public order”, Reuters reported. However, he said local curfews were a more appropriate response at this stage than imposing wider restrictions.
The prime minister did not name the cities where curfews would be introduced or explain the exact restrictions being considered. He ruled out a blanket curfew across the French capital, saying, “These curfews must be local and partial. It is out of the question to put all of Paris under curfew.”
PSG vs Barcelona match to go ahead
Despite the unrest, the French government has no plans to cancel Tuesday evening’s football match between Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez confirmed the decision during the same press conference. The match will go ahead as France deals with the aftermath of the weekend’s disturbances.
Meanwhile, mayors of several major French cities have demanded answers from the government over what they described as inadequate preparations by security forces to deal with the violence.
Protests add to pressure on French government
The latest unrest follows weeks of student demonstrations, some of which have been accompanied by violence on the streets. The protests have added to the pressure on the government as France faces economic difficulties and rising public debt.
The situation has also raised concerns about public safety and the authorities’ ability to contain further disturbances. With the next presidential election around six months away, the unrest comes at a difficult time for the French government.
Lecornu’s announcement signals a tougher approach to restoring order, although the government has not ruled out stronger measures if the situation worsens. The local authorities are now expected to assess the security situation and decide where partial curfews may be needed to prevent further violence.
