France curfews calm unrest as Macron faces criticism over Gulf trip

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu confirmed that emergency measures, including targeted curfews, will persist in several zones following a weekend marked by intense civil unrest and violent clashes. The unrest has severely tested local law enforcement capabilities and triggered a wave of domestic political criticism directed at President Emmanuel Macron. Critics have seized on the timing of Macron's recent diplomatic trip to the Gulf, arguing that the leadership should have remained focused on domestic stabilization. While the curfews have begun to restore a semblance of calm to the most affected neighborhoods, underlying social tensions remain elevated. Financial markets are closely monitoring the political fallout, as sustained domestic instability could weigh on French sovereign debt and broader European sentiment. The government faces a delicate balance of restoring order without exacerbating public grievances through heavy-handed policing.