French President Emmanuel Macron has rejected the resignation of Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez following widespread rioting, looting and attacks on public buildings during nationwide demonstrations over the rising cost of living and poor conditions in schools.
The unrest, which intensified over the weekend, resulted in approximately 2,400 arrests and extensive damage to businesses and public infrastructure across several French cities, according to authorities.
One of the most serious incidents occurred in Limoges, central France, where fire engulfed the historic city hall, causing extensive damage to the building.
The violence has intensified scrutiny of the government’s security preparations and raised questions about its handling of demonstrations that initially centred on economic and educational concerns.
READ RELATED NEWS
France Erupts: Cost-of-living protests leave cities burning, 1,200 arrested
UK to fund French officers to detain migrants under new channel plan
Nuñez offered his resignation following criticism of the authorities’ response to the unrest and acknowledged shortcomings in security planning.
However, Macron refused to accept it, saying the interior minister needed to remain in office to maintain command of the country’s law enforcement agencies.
According to a statement from the presidential office, Macron rejected the resignation “given the need for continued command of law enforcement in the current context.”
The president also instructed Nuñez to introduce new measures to tackle looting and address failures in security planning and intelligence gathering.
The decision comes amid growing criticism of the authorities’ preparedness for the demonstrations, with local officials questioning whether sufficient security personnel had been deployed to protect businesses and public buildings.
MACRON CONDEMNS VIOLENCE
Macron condemned the rioting in a televised address, distinguishing between citizens expressing legitimate grievances and those responsible for criminal acts.
“Tonight, we all feel anger and shame,” Macron said, according to the Associated Press.
He also warned that those responsible for looting and attacks on public property would be held accountable.
The demonstrations brought together students demanding better conditions in schools and people protesting against rising living costs and deteriorating public services.
Although many participants took part in peaceful demonstrations, some groups engaged in looting, arson and confrontations with police.
The resulting damage has placed additional pressure on the government to explain how the violence escalated despite the deployment of security forces.
INTERIOR MINISTER ACKNOWLEDGES SECURITY FAILURES
Nuñez acknowledged that police had struggled to contain the violence in several major cities, admitting that the authorities had failed to anticipate the scale of the unrest.
He said the government needed to review its security strategy and improve coordination between law enforcement agencies.
The interior minister’s offer to resign reflected the pressure facing the government following the widespread destruction.
However, Macron’s decision to retain him means Nuñez will remain responsible for overseeing changes to policing operations and addressing concerns about intelligence failures.
Authorities are still evaluating the extent of the damage and investigating attacks on businesses, public buildings and law enforcement personnel.
