French President Emmanuel Macron has rejected Interior Minister Laurent Nunez's resignation after Nunez admitted that police lost control in some cities during riots sparked by protests against rising living costs. These disturbances led to looting, arson attacks on buildings, and clashes with authorities nationwide, while the government prepares an emergency meeting to manage the consequences.
French President Emmanuel Macron has turned down Interior Minister Laurent Nunez's resignation request following violent riots across the country over the past weekend. The presidential office revealed on Monday that Macron wants Nunez to remain in his post to maintain continuity in police and security agency leadership, while ordering swift development of new measures to counter looters.
Nunez admitted that police lost control in certain cities and that preparations for handling the situation lacked foresight. He decided to submit his resignation because he felt responsible for the events, but Macron refused to accept it.
The protests originated from public dissatisfaction with rising living costs, declining education quality, and problematic public services. On Saturday (17 Oct), over 500,000 people participated in demonstrations across dozens of cities, mostly peaceful, but some troublemakers exploited the situation to loot luxury stores and supermarkets, destroy police vehicles, set fires to buildings, and clash with officials.
The Interior Minister reported that police arrested approximately 2,400 suspects nationwide, and nearly 1,000 officers were injured. One person died from cardiac arrest during the rally in Paris.
Violence continued in several major cities including Paris, Marseille, Lyon, and Limoges. Reports included a brief occupation of Marseille's city hall, while the tourism office in Lyon and Limoges city hall were set on fire. The blaze in Limoges caused the collapse of the city hall clock tower, severely damaging official premises.
In Paris, further looting and property damage occurred on Sunday evening, though violence had decreased compared to the previous day. Police said they arrested more than 100 individuals involved and noted that five shops were looted. Authorities used tear gas to disperse rioters gathered around the Châtelet area, with the unrest continuing past midnight.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu plans to hold an emergency cabinet meeting on Monday to discuss the economic impact, business damages, and law enforcement measures. Meanwhile, a group of mayors is set to gather in front of local city halls at noon to condemn attacks on democratic institutions.
Earlier, Macron addressed the nation via live broadcast, expressing that the events caused both anger and shame, emphasizing that no justification exists for violence. However, he distinguished between peaceful protesters with legitimate demands and those intent on causing chaos. He stated the government will allow governors to ban demonstrations if necessary to protect public buildings and local businesses, although a state of emergency has not yet been declared.
Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right National Rally party, called for calm from all sides, while left-wing politician Jean-Luc Mélenchon urged Macron to respond to the demands of protesting high school students.
The business sector suffered heavy losses. Alexandre Bompard, CEO of Carrefour, revealed that 50 company stores were damaged, including 20 looted, with damages estimated in the tens of millions of euros. The Minister of Economy promised support for affected entrepreneurs and stressed that perpetrators must be held accountable for the damages.
These riots have increased pressure on the French government, which is already facing public dissatisfaction over living costs, public services, and education quality. The government must quickly restore order and address the widespread damages across the country.