Story perspectives

France imposes overnight curfews after weekend riots, looting

By Drooid · Oct 20, 2026, 2:00 AM UTC · How we work

Left

Minister offers resignation

French authorities imposed overnight partial curfews and demonstration bans in parts of Paris and other cities on Monday after weekend riots and looting.
Mayors of Paris, Marseille and Lyon warned the unrest represented an unprecedented loss of control that threatens the Republic’s foundations.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said police lost control and cited inadequate security preparation.
Nuñez offered to resign, but President Emmanuel Macron asked him to stay.

Right

Platform removal demand

Overnight curfews were imposed Monday in parts of Paris and several other French cities after weekend riots and looting.
Digital Minister Anne Le Hénanff summoned eBay, Vinted and other platform executives, demanding immediate removal of online listings for looted items.
Shop owners said police refused to intervene during looting, highlighting perceived law-enforcement failures.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu stressed curfews were limited, localized and no fatalities occurred despite violence.

Center

Macron blocks resignation

French authorities imposed overnight curfews in parts of Paris and several other cities on Monday following weekend riots and looting.
The government highlighted that the curfews are limited, localized, could be expanded to a state of emergency, and announced funding to compel looters to pay.
Police reported roughly 2,400 arrests nationwide.
President Emmanuel Macron rejected Minister Laurent Nuñez’s resignation and ordered transparency review of intelligence failures.

History

Historical Context

In November 2005, the deaths of teenagers Zyed Saadi and Bouna Traoré ignited French riots, prompting President Jacques Chirac to declare a state of emergency. Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy oversaw police actions that produced roughly 2,000 arrests and over 5,000 burned vehicles in Paris, Lille and Marseille. Today's curfews by Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez and President Emmanuel Macron mirror 2005 emergency, as police face criticism for delayed response and looters use eBay. The recurrence underscores France’s ongoing struggle to balance civil liberties with security, prompting debates over expanding emergency powers and strengthening digital monitoring of stolen goods.

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Minister offers resignation

French authorities imposed overnight partial curfews and demonstration bans in parts of Paris and other cities on Monday after weekend riots and looting.
Mayors of Paris, Marseille and Lyon warned the unrest represented an unprecedented loss of control that threatens the Republic’s foundations.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said police lost control and cited inadequate security preparation.
Nuñez offered to resign, but President Emmanuel Macron asked him to stay.

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