French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has said that authorities could impose further localised curfews following violence during weekend protests against the high cost of living, demanding improvements in education, wages and social benefits.
In a statement on X, Lecornu said targeted curfews "contributed to calm" overnight, adding that further restrictions could be announced Tuesday evening "where the situation requires it".
Decisions would be taken locally by prefects in coordination with mayors, he said.
Partial curfews took effect on Monday night in areas including Paris and Lyon.
Marseille will introduce a curfew for minors in certain areas from 10 PM to 5 AM starting Tuesday evening, lasting at least until Friday, Le Figaro reported.
Mayor Benoit Payan said the restrictions would apply exclusively to commercial areas hit by looting or considered at risk.
Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin said 149 people had been jailed as of midday Tuesday, updating an earlier figure of 67.
Authorities previously reported that 2,513 people had been taken into custody.
Earlier on Tuesday, he said around 50 judicial investigations had been opened.
Ban on protective gear
Paris police ordered a temporary ban on people carrying cans or bottles of petrol or gas or possessing fireworks.
The measures apply up to and including Thursday and cover the greater Paris region.
Another ban was also ordered, forbidding the wearing of protective gear, such as helmets, within a block of high schools or universities.
Speaking to CNews-Europe 1, Darmanin rejected the need for a state of emergency, saying authorities could restore order through firmness without restricting the individual freedoms of the entire population.
Meanwhile, parliamentary group leaders agreed to begin a procedure for the National Assembly’s Law Committee to become a commission of inquiry into the weekend violence, looting and policing measures.
National Assembly President Yael Braun-Pivet urged the government to address protesters' demands, saying hundreds of thousands had demonstrated peacefully.
She warned that policing concerns should not overshadow the budget debate and demonstrators' grievances.
Lecornu is scheduled to meet with unions on Wednesday and representatives of political parties on Thursday.
Business federation Medef President Patrick Martin accused the state of failing to maintain order, citing preliminary government estimates that at least 3,000 businesses were affected.
Economy Minister Roland Lescure said support measures would be announced for affected traders and craftspeople to help them resume operations quickly.
Saturday protests
A Yellow Vest coordination group has called for another mobilisation on Saturday, October 24.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said that France will deploy some military forces to reinforce police during protests slated for this coming Saturday.
"We will deploy the Sentinelle force, obviously as a substitute for interior security forces, mostly to free police and gendarmes in their mission to maintain order," Nunez told the National Assembly.
Nunez was speaking after Lecornu said police deployment for Saturday's demonstrations would be "massive" and that his goal was for an "immediate return to order."
