French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said curfews contributed to a calm night after a weekend of violent rioting. Criticism is growing of President Emmanuel Macron's Middle East tour, while French bonds, stocks and the euro sold off on Monday.
Curfews contributed to a "calm" night across France, Lecornu said Tuesday, even as public discontent remained high after the weekend's mass protests, looting and violent scenes. Some areas will stay under curfew.
Curfews cover parts of several cities
Certain areas of several French cities were under curfew overnight, including Place de la République and Les Halles in Paris, and parts of central Lyon. Lille and Nice were among the cities to impose curfews for minors.
In a statement on Tuesday, Lecornu said local officials would impose new curfews where required.
Riots follow weeks of protest
The riots followed weeks of demonstrations amid public anger over the education system, the cost of living and other issues. Hundreds of thousands of people marched peacefully, but pockets of violence erupted as protesters smashed shopfronts and set Limoges Town Hall on fire.
Macron's Gulf tour draws criticism
Meanwhile, criticism is mounting over Macron's decision to embark on a three-day tour of the Middle East as France suffers its most severe riots in many years. Macron said on Sunday that the trip to Kuwait, the UAE, Bahrain and Qatar aims to address high fuel prices and secure French energy supplies, while strengthening defense and security cooperation.
Political commentator Christophe Barbier said on radio station RTL on Monday there was "no longer a pilot in the plane."
Markets and the 2027 budget
French assets came under pressure on Monday, with bonds, stocks and the euro all selling off amid growing skepticism about the country's ability to bring down its deficit to a sustainable level.
Parliament is debating the 2027 budget, with the government targeting a decline in the deficit to 5% of GDP from 5.4%. The country faces a divided parliament with no majority and presidential elections in April 2027.
Source: CNBC
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