Police restricted access to Paris' Place de la République on Monday night (October 19) after authorities imposed an overnight curfew around the square and the Les Halles area following a weekend of riots and looting, rocking France six months ahead of its next presidential election and highlighting pressures from a weak economy and surging debt.

Dentistry student Omaima Bourray said she opposed vandalism but backed peaceful demonstrations.

"(President Emmanuel) Macron isn't listening to us, even though we have demands. We have real things to say," she said.

Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu had ruled out a blanket curfew in Paris but not a state of emergency, and had said it was more appropriate for now to apply partial and localized curfews.

Paris police said they had issued orders barring protests in certain areas of the French capital from 8 p.m. (1800 GMT) and had issued a curfew around the Place de la Republique and Les Halles from 11:00 p.m. Both would remain in effect until 6 a.m. on Tuesday morning.

Tensions in Macron's fragile government over apparent security shortcomings — coming as the government needs to pass a budget bill to rein in its finances — could further unsettle investors.

Macron's office said on Monday he had turned down his Interior Minister Laurent Nunez's offer to resign, telling him instead to put an end to barricades and looting and be transparent over what Macron called "intelligence and foresight failings."

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

PARIS, FRANCE (OCTOBER 19, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all) (NIGHT SHOTS)

1. VARIOUS OF CONVOY OF POLICE VEHICLES WITH SIRENS BLARING ON STREET

2. (SOUNDBITE) (French) DENTISTRY STUDENT, OMAIMA BOURRAY, SAYING:

"Personally, I don't agree with the vandals because they're smashing up shops, and frankly, it discredits us. It doesn't really show what we want. But on the other hand, I agree with everyone who comes here to shout, to say what they have to say."

3. CONVOY OF POLICE VEHICLES MOVING ALONG STREET

4. (SOUNDBITE) (French) DENTISTRY STUDENT, OMAIMA BOURRAY, SAYING:

"And I think it's a shame because (French President Emmanuel) Macron isn't listening to us, even though we have demands. We have real things to say, and that's that."

5. VARIOUS OF POLICE ARRIVING TO PLACE DE LA REPUBLIQUE SQUARE

6. POLICE AT PLACE DE LA REPUBLIQUE SQUARE

7. TWO POLICE SPEAKING TO EACH OTHER, CONVOY OF POLICE VEHICLES PARKED BEHIND

8. VARIOUS OF POLICE STANDING GUARD

9. GROUP OF POLICE WALKING

10. VARIOUS OF CONVOY OF POLICE VEHICLES IN AREA SURROUNDING SQUARE