20.10.2026 11:42
French Minister of Justice Gérald Darmanin said that after the Yellow Vests protests held across the country on October 17, which were marked by violence, they were not considering declaring a state of emergency (OHAL) at this stage. Arguing that public order had been restored within 3 days, Darmanin stated that “there is no need to deprive all French people of their individual freedoms for a few thousand criminals.” During the protests, 3,000 shops were damaged or looted, and approximately 2,500 people were detained.
Following the Yellow Vests protests held in France against the cost of living and high fuel prices, partial curfews are being imposed in some cities. The government, for now, does not intend to resort to the state of emergency option.
“SHOPKEEPERS HAVE THE RIGHT TO REACT”
France’s Minister of Justice and former Interior Minister Darmanin, speaking on CNews-Europe 1 channel, stated that business owners whose shops were damaged during the protests had the right to say that the state had failed to ensure public order and security.
Recalling the protests held after 17-year-old Nahel lost his life to a police bullet during his tenure as Interior Minister, Darmanin noted that they had drawn some lessons from those events.
“PUBLIC ORDER WAS RESTORED IN 3 DAYS” DEFENSE
Regarding the actions of the Yellow Vests, who took to the streets again on October 17, Darmanin said that at this stage they were not considering declaring a state of emergency. Claiming that public order was restored within 3 days after the protests, Darmanin stressed that “there is no need to deprive all French people of their individual freedoms for a few thousand criminals.”
3,000 SHOPS WERE DAMAGED
The Yellow Vests, also supported by students, held nationwide demonstrations on October 17 against the cost of living and high fuel prices. In the demonstrations, where violent incidents occurred, about 2,500 people were detained, and more than 1,000 police officers, gendarmerie personnel, and firefighters were injured. 3,000 shops were damaged or looted.
MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS WERE TARGETED
During the protests, Limoges City Hall and a tourism office in Lyon were set on fire, while in Marseille protesters damaged the city hall. Shopkeepers whose shops were damaged had reacted against the government on the grounds that it could not manage the crisis.
PARTIAL CURFEW IN 4 CITIES
The government had decided to impose partial curfews in some areas, particularly Paris, Lille, Lyon, and Nice, to prevent possible new protests.