France curfews after October 17 riots: how far can the government go?

Following weekend violence and looting, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced Monday he has asked prefects to implement targeted curfews, favoring this approach over declaring a state of emergency. Legal experts say a state of emergency would be an abusive use of the law given the current situation, as previous declarations followed longer periods of unrest. Targeted curfews are seen as a way to neutralize potential rioters before they reach trouble spots. Experts note that exceptional measures do not guarantee a return to calm, citing the 2005 and 2023 riots. They argue that managing disorder requires a political response addressing social frustrations, as police alone cannot resolve all societal issues.