French government asks local authorities to impose curfews after riots

France’s central government on Monday asked some local authorities to impose curfews and faced pressure over security failings after a weekend of riots and looting during nationwide anti-government protests, Reuters reported.

Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu did not rule out a state of emergency but said partial and localised curfews were more appropriate for now. He ruled out a blanket curfew in Paris.

“My determination to restore order is absolute,” he said in a press conference.

About 2,400 people were arrested, one protester died from a cardiac arrest on Saturday, and nearly 1,000 officers were injured.

President Emmanuel Macron turned down Interior Minister Laurent Nunez’s offer to resign, instead telling him to end the barricades and looting and be transparent over what Macron called “intelligence and foresight failings.”

The Federation of Trade and Retail said almost 3,000 shops were affected. Lecornu said the government would provide furlough measures from Tuesday.

French unions have called for fresh strikes and rallies on November 5.