France Publishes Curfew Zones for Paris, Lille, Lyon and Nice After Riots; Lecornu Rules Out State of Emergency for Now

Since Saturday's protests turned into France's worst rioting in years, the government has moved from announcing curfews to publishing where they apply: parts of Paris, Lille and three other northern towns, Lyon and Nice, all taking effect tonight, Oct. 19.

Lecornu spoke after an emergency meeting of ministers at the Hôtel de Matignon. He said he had instructed prefects to impose "very limited" and "localized" curfews. There was "no question" of a full curfew on entire cities, he said.

Where the curfews apply

The prime minister's office set curfews from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. on Monday and Tuesday nights in four northern cities: Lille, Douai, Wattignies and Denain.

In Paris, a police statement orders a curfew from 11 p.m. Monday to 6 a.m. Tuesday at two locations: Place de la République, where rioting took place Saturday, and the Les Halles shopping district, which saw looting. The orders ban gatherings and demonstrations and bar anyone from entering or staying in those zones. BFMTV, citing Paris elected officials, put the start of the Les Halles curfew at 10 p.m.

Lyon bans gatherings on public roads from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., followed by a curfew on parts of the city from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. Nice's mayor announced a curfew for minors on streets in the downtown area from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Marseille's prefect had already banned all protests and gatherings from noon to 8 p.m. today.

Emergency powers held in reserve

Lecornu said a state of emergency has not been deemed necessary. "If necessary, we could do so," he said, but at this stage partial curfews seem "more appropriate."

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, whose resignation offer Macron refused, said police and gendarmerie forces will be reinforced ahead of further protests. He said a review of the doctrine for maintaining order and handling urban violence is underway.

Nuñez had said earlier that intelligence expected 200,000 demonstrators nationwide Saturday. More than 500,000 turned out, according to the Guardian's account of his remarks, and peaceful marches were overtaken by rioters.

The damage count

Commerce Minister Serge Papin said at least 3,000 businesses were damaged or looted over the weekend, with damage estimates in the hundreds of millions of euros, according to Le Monde. Other reporting cites authorities estimating about 2,000 shops ransacked. The figures have not been reconciled. Public buildings were also hit. Flames nearly destroyed the 19th-century city hall in Limoges, and its roof collapsed.

Lecornu said that on Saturday, despite severe violence, "no one was killed, and that is a miracle." CNN reported at least two deaths and serious injuries, including two people who lost their hands. The government and CNN's account differ on the death toll.

Official figures put arrests at nearly 2,400, about 70% of them adults, with almost 1,000 police and firefighters hurt.

Shopkeepers and the opposition

Nuñez told France Inter that "you can't look shopkeepers in the eye when hundreds of businesses have been looted and say we haven't lost control in some of these major cities."

Ouri Zagoury, who owns a video game shop near Place de la République, said he watched looters break in on surveillance cameras. He said police told him not to intervene and that they would come, but "they never did."

Jordan Bardella, president of the National Rally, said: "The government has failed, the head of state has failed in his essential duty of protecting the French people." He urged voters to "use their voting power." Bardella campaigns alongside Marine Le Pen, whose polling has for months suggested she is the front-runner in next spring's presidential election.

The mayors of Paris, Marseille and Limoges have also criticized the government's handling of the unrest, according to AFP. The Tribune's account of their criticism does not spell out their specific complaints.

Nuñez has blamed "hordes of troublemakers and looters" and "far-left activists." Macron has promised to hold meetings this week on "concrete proposals" and to listen to protesters' demands.

What is on the calendar

The Champions League match between Paris Saint-Germain and Barcelona will go ahead Tuesday at the Parc des Princes, Nuñez confirmed. He said the possibility of cancelling planned events had been discussed, but not for that match. Lille's game against Galatasaray on Wednesday is also unaffected.

The NFL has said its game between the Steelers and Saints at Stade de France remains scheduled for Sunday. Nuñez did not address it.

The protest calendar is also filling up. French unions have called a new round of strikes and rallies for Nov. 5, and the Yellow Vest movement has called protests for Saturday. Nuñez, who has promised police reinforcements for the weekend, is expected to visit Marseille. The curfew orders for Lille and its neighboring towns cover Monday and Tuesday nights, and the government has not said whether they will be extended.