# France Orders Curfews Amid Widespread Rioting

> France imposes curfews and protest bans as half a million rioters demand education reform and fuel cost cuts.
- Title: France Orders Curfews Amid Widespread Rioting · Foreign Policy
- Summary: France imposes curfews and protest bans as half a million rioters demand education reform and fuel cost cuts. France's government orders curfews and protest…
- Keywords: france, protests, riots, curfews, sebastien lecornu, emmanuel macron, jean-luc melenchon, france unbowed, national rally, education reform, fuel costs, public services
- Source: Foreign Policy — https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/10/19/france-protests-violence-riots-curfew-paris-lecornu-macron-melenchon
- Author: Alexandra Sharp
- Published: 2026-10-20T00:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: france, protests, riots, curfews, sebastien lecornu, emmanuel macron, jean-luc melenchon, france unbowed, national rally, education reform, fuel costs, public services
## France announces protest curfews
France ordered partial protest bans in Paris and curfews in certain areas to reassert control amid widespread domestic unrest.
## Over half a million protesters
More than half a million people joined anti-government protests over the weekend demanding education reform, fuel cost cuts, and public service improvements.
## Interior minister resigns
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez offered to step down after admitting French police were unprepared for the scale of unrest.
## Prime minister vows control
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu vowed to use 'whatever tools are at the government’s disposal' to quell unrest.
## Rioting escalates
Rioting, looting, and arson prompted police to use tear gas and water cannons to disperse protesters.
## Security figures reported
According to the Interior Ministry, nearly 1,000 security personnel were injured, around 2,400 protesters arrested, and at least 3,00:00 businesses pillaged.
## Ruling coalition blames left
France’s ruling coalition blamed the hard-left France Unbowed party for fomenting the crisis ahead of next April’s presidential election.
## Far-right accuses France Unbowed
The far-right National Rally party accused France Unbowed of stoking unrest and claimed Macron lost control of the country.
## Melenchon supports peaceful protests
Only France Unbowed leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon expressed support for peaceful elements of student-led movement.
## Trump calls for border closures
U.S. President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social that migrants have taken over France and must CLOSE THE BORDERS, FAST.
## Rioting spreads to Italy
Rioting spread to Italy with over 5,000 people protesting rising prices and poor public services in Milan.
## Italy’s prime minister responds
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called protesters 'thugs' and demanded condemnation of violent acts.
## Key takeaway

France's government orders curfews and protest bans after half a million protesters demanded education reform and fuel cost cuts.