French authorities have imposed partial curfews in several cities following a weekend marked by widespread violence and unrest. The government announced that police had temporarily lost control amid protests and riots that unfolded across the country.

After an emergency cabinet meeting on Monday, the office of Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu declared partial curfews from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. on Monday and Tuesday nights in four northern cities, including Lille. In Paris, police also enacted curfews in two areas: Place de la République, the site of significant rioting last Saturday, and Les Halles, a major shopping district that experienced looting during the disturbances.

Marseille, France’s second-largest city, independently prohibited all public gatherings and demonstrations on Monday, citing concerns over safety and further violence. Meanwhile, several French unions have called for increased labor strikes and protests planned for November 5, signaling continued unrest in the weeks ahead.

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez offered his resignation to President Emmanuel Macron in response to the unrest and what officials described as lapses in planning and intelligence. Macron declined to accept the resignation, instead instructing Nuñez to take all necessary measures to enhance transparency regarding the failures that contributed to the escalation.

The recent unrest follows months of mounting social tensions and dissatisfaction with government policies. Authorities have attributed the violent outbreaks to a mixture of protest groups and opportunistic criminal activity, though some critics argue that inadequate preparedness and intelligence failure exacerbated the situation.

French law enforcement officials are continuing efforts to reestablish order and assess the response strategies in affected cities. Government officials have not ruled out further security measures should the situation persist or escalate.