French PM accuses radicals of forging ‘insurrectionary plan’
PARIS/ROME: French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu on Tuesday vowed a “massive” police presence at fresh protests called for the coming weekend, as he faced criticism over the handling of recent street violence.
The eurozone’s second-largest economy was rocked on Saturday by some of its worst rioting in recent years, just six months before voters head to the polls to elect a successor to President Emmanuel Macron.
Facing angry lawmakers in parliament, Lecornu acknowledged that the security response had fallen short and promised a stronger approach ahead of a new wave of protests. “The deployment for next Saturday will be massive,” Lecornu said.
He accused ultra-left radical groups of forging an “insurrectionary plan” that led to the riots, which erupted on the sidelines of nationwide protests over the cost of living. Images of clashes, mobs looting stores and public buildings set ablaze last weekend prompted several countries, including the United States, China and Germany, to issue travel advisories for their citizens in France.
Italy to send 500 troops to Milan after clashes
French authorities on Monday announced partial curfews in Paris and some other cities, and Lecornu said fresh curfews would be imposed on Tuesday where needed. The nighttime curfew in the capital, from 2100 GMT, applied to Republique square in the centre east and the Les Halles district in the centre that is full of shops. A ban on public gatherings was also ordered for the Champs-Elysees, near several public buildings, and at train stations.
Paris police also ordered a temporary ban on people carrying cans or bottles of petrol or gas, after mobs set fire to government buildings and shops last weekend.
Milan clashes
Italy was on Tuesday preparing to send 500 troops to Milan after violent clashes as fuel price protests hit pasta production and food deliveries in southern Italy.
Some luxury brands have kept their shops shut in the centre of Italy’s fashion hub after looting and riots over the weekend by mostly young protesters that left dozens of police officers injured.
The government is also considering a wider crackdown, including easing laws on detaining minors and measures to punish parents. Hundreds of protesters were detained during two days of clashes in Milan and more protests are expected.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said the violent perpetrators were “thugs who exploit demonstrations to spread chaos, attack those who guarantee security, and hold entire cities hostage.” “To demonstrate is a right. To lay our cities to waste is not,” she wrote on X.
Hard-right leader Meloni faces elections next year in which the state of the economy, security and immigration are likely to be the key issues.
Published in Dawn, October 21st, 2026
