Paris authorities were cleaning graffiti from the statue at Place de la République on Tuesday (October 20), following a weekend of riots and looting that prompted authorities to impose an overnight curfew around the square and Les Halles.

The unrest comes six months before France's next presidential election and against a backdrop of economic weakness and surging public debt.

Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu had ruled out a blanket curfew in Paris, though not a state of emergency, saying partial and localised curfews were more appropriate for the time being.

Paris police issued orders banning protests in certain parts of the capital from 8 p.m. (1800 GMT), as well as a curfew around Place de la République and Les Halles from 11 p.m. Both measures were due to remain in effect until 6 a.m. on Tuesday.

The unrest has added pressure on President Emmanuel Macron's fragile government as it seeks to pass a budget bill aimed at reining in France's finances, potentially adding to investor concerns.

Macron's office said on Monday that he had rejected Interior Minister Laurent Nunez's offer to resign, instead instructing him to put an end to barricades and looting and to provide transparency over what Macron described as failings in "intelligence and foresight."

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

Paris cleans up Republique square after protests prompt curfew

VIDEO SHOWS: CLEANING UP OF PARIS' REPUBLIQUE SQUARE STATUE AFTER A WEEKEND OF PROTESTS AND RIOTS

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: PARIS, FRANCE (OCTOBER 20, 2026) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. REPUBLIQUE SQUARE'S MONUMENT BEING CLEANED UP

2. VARIOUS OF CLEAN-UP CREW ON CRANE CLEANING STATUE

3. REPUBLIQUE SQUARE'S STATUE BEING CLEANED UP

4. STATUE

5. WORKER WASHING MONUMENT

6. CLEAN-UP CREW WORKING ON MONUMENT

7. CLEAN-UP CREW ON CRANE CLEANING STATUE

8. WORKER SWEEPING MONUMENT

9. VARIOUS OF CLEAN-UP CREW ON CRANE