jordan pulse -

​Amid mounting pressure to respond to the violence that rocked France over the weekend, French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced that he requested regional prefects to impose "curfews" starting Monday evening.
​Lecornu explained that this measure would be "partial" and "localized" in scope, specifically designed to protect businesses following scenes of chaos across several French cities.
​Speaking at the conclusion of an interministerial crisis meeting, Lecornu stated that details and locations of the curfews are expected to be announced Monday afternoon following consultations with relevant mayors. He also raised the possibility of declaring a state of emergency "if necessary," though he noted that imposing localized curfews "appears to be a more appropriate option".
​The Prime Minister accused the radical left of seeking to cause "deep... disruption in the country ahead of the presidential election," following the violence that escalated alongside recent demonstrations.
​Lecornu asserted that "there is a shadowy network that could mobilize, and may even seek to challenge the timeline of the presidential election or its holding altogether". He confirmed he will convene a "special meeting" with the Interior Minister and intelligence agencies to address the matter.
​Meanwhile, students blocked the entrance to the Louvre Museum in Paris to express "support" for high school student protests and denounce "police repression," according to museum management and trade representatives.
​The museum was unable to open its doors at its usual 9:00 AM opening time. A banner posted by protesters near the site read: "We proudly announce that we are closing the entrance to the world's largest museum". In parallel, the "Yellow Vests" movement—behind last Saturday's demonstrations—called for a new day of mobilization next Saturday.
​President Emmanuel Macron acknowledged "failings" in the management of the anti-cost-of-living protests and requested that police adapt their tactics when confronting vandals.
​Illustrating the severity of the crisis stemming from the clashes, vandalism, and looting over the weekend, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez submitted his resignation to the President. However, President Macron rejected the resignation "due to the need for continuous leadership of the security forces," as announced by the Élysée Palace on Monday morning.
​This new political crisis unfolds just six months before the presidential election, at a time when far-right candidate Marine Le Pen leads in opinion polls, and while France—the eurozone's second-largest economy—remains under close scrutiny from financial markets due to its heavy debt burden.
​Despite the situation, the French President, who has been in power since 2017 and is constitutionally ineligible to run for another term in the upcoming election, decided to proceed with his Gulf tour to discuss oil issues.
​Facing a fragile political position, the government is seeking to regain the initiative by holding a series of emergency meetings on Monday to address the violence that shocked observers worldwide and signals a deepening political crisis.
​Source: Rum News Agency