France Keeps Curfews in Place as Protests Continue to Rock the Country

French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez says curfews imposed across several cities will stay in effect in the coming days as the country braces for another wave of mass protests, with the next major demonstration planned for October 31.

Curfews Set to Continue, Says Interior Minister

Curfews in several French cities will remain in place in the near future. This comes as protests continue to spread across the country, Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said on Monday.

Large scale demonstrations against the rising cost of living swept through France on October 24. Ahead of the protests, authorities in many French cities had already introduced curfews. They also banned all forms of public demonstrations in those areas.

What The Minister Said

Speaking on radio station RMC, Nunez gave a blunt assessment of the days ahead.

“Honestly, the situation won’t change in the coming days. Curfews will, of course, remain in place.”

He explained that the final call on curfews rests with local officials. Prefects and mayors in each region make that decision individually.

Authorities Brace For Next Round of Protests

According to the minister, officials are already preparing for the next major demonstration. A new nationwide protest day has been scheduled for October 31.

Nunez added that extremely tough security measures will be rolled out. These steps are meant to help maintain public order during the unrest.

How The Unrest Began

The protest movement first took shape in mid September. High school students in the suburbs of Paris started the demonstrations. They were demanding better conditions in their schools.

The movement soon grew larger. People frustrated by rising prices across the country joined the student led protests. The unrest then spread well beyond the capital into other regions of France.

The Biggest Protest Yet

The largest demonstration so far took place on October 17. Interior Ministry figures show around 550,000 people took part nationwide.

French police responded with tear gas during the protests. Officers also used stun grenades and water cannons to control the crowds. Over the most recent weekend alone, more than 1,400 people were detained across the country.