French PM backs curfews as cost-of-living protests turn violent in Paris and beyond

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu called for localised curfews on Monday as protests over the cost of living escalated into some of the worst street violence in years, with demonstrators blocking the Louvre in Paris and the government vowing to restore public order. The weekend saw around half a million people demonstrate nationwide, leading to looting, arson, and over 2,500 arrests, while Interior Minister Laurent Nunez admitted police "had lost control" and offered his resignation, which President Emmanuel Macron rejected. Macron instead ordered new security methods and transparency over intelligence failures, as authorities blamed ultra-left groups for stoking unrest ahead of the presidential election. Damage is estimated in the hundreds of millions of euros, affecting over 2,000 shops, with further protests planned for next Saturday. Similar cost-of-living demonstrations and clashes occurred in Italy, Belgium, and Spain, while the EU condemned the violence but stressed protecting peaceful protest rights.