France imposes curfews as Louvre blocked by art student protests

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced Monday evening that he has asked prefects to implement partial, localized curfews to protect businesses after a weekend of chaos in several cities. The curfew map will be shared in the afternoon following discussions with mayors, with a state of emergency possible if needed. The Louvre museum in Paris was blocked Monday morning by a small group of art students protesting cultural budget cuts and supporting high school student movements. Tourists, including families from the Netherlands and Switzerland, were kept behind security barriers, with demonstrators distributing bilingual flyers explaining their demands for continued access to culture. Many visitors expressed frustration and disappointment, with some saying they understood the grievances but questioned blocking a cultural landmark. The students stated that blocking the museum was their only way to be heard, while the government considers curfews more appropriate than a state of emergency.