Following weekend riots, Paris police ordered a nighttime curfew for selected central districts Monday, while France prepared aid for businesses damaged or looted during the unrest.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu directed prefects to choose partial curfews in areas hit by the violence after consulting mayors and chambers of commerce. He ruled out restrictions covering all of Paris. Lecornu said a state of emergency remained possible, though the government would begin with local measures.
The violence followed nationwide demonstrations over education and the cost of living. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez acknowledged that police had lost control in some cities. In a France Inter interview, he said he had offered to resign and President Emmanuel Macron had refused.
At an Oct. 19 crisis briefing, Lecornu reaffirmed his confidence in Nuñez. Nuñez said more police officers and gendarmes would be deployed, particularly over the coming weekend.
An estimated 3,000 or more businesses were damaged or looted, Commerce Minister Serge Papin said. Lecornu said employment support for affected shops would begin Oct. 20 as ministers developed further assistance.
