French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said police lost control in some cities during the Oct. 17 protests, as the government moved to help damaged businesses and examine its security response.
The Interior Ministry counted 550,000 demonstrators across France. Nuñez told France Inter that 60,000 police and gendarmes had been deployed, but said the response in some places fell short of the crowds and violent groups. EconoTimes previously covered arrests at cost-of-living protests.
Commerce Minister Serge Papin gave a provisional estimate of at least 3,000 shops damaged or looted. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said affected businesses faced losses of stock and cash flow as they tried to reopen and protect jobs.
Lecornu said emergency partial-activity support would start Oct. 20 at what he described as a 100% rate. He announced a dedicated fund for affected businesses and said talks with insurers were underway to accelerate damage assessments and payments.
Nuñez offered to resign, but President Emmanuel Macron declined. In an Oct. 18 address, Macron called for an examination of intelligence and preparations for the demonstrations. He said concerns about living costs and fuel prices warranted a response, while condemning attacks on shops and public buildings.
Macron said the government would bring together students, educators, unions, employers, local officials and lawmakers to consider the protesters’ concerns.
Lecornu asked prefects to consider partial, localized curfews from the evening of Oct. 19 after consulting mayors and business representatives. He also said unions had given notice of a Nov. 5 demonstration and that he would discuss its security arrangements with them.
