France Protests Macron Rejects Interior Minister’s Resignation
France Protests: Emmanuel Macron retains Interior Minister Laurent Nunez after widespread unrest.
French President Emmanuel Macron has rejected Interior Minister Laurent Nunez’s resignation following widespread violence and looting during protests across France.
According to broadcaster BFMTV, Nunez submitted his resignation on Sunday amid growing criticism of the authorities’ handling of the unrest. However, Macron decided to retain him to ensure continuity in the leadership of the country’s security forces.
Nunez accepted responsibility for the situation in several cities. Speaking to France Inter radio, he said he was accountable for events on the ground and explained why he had offered to resign.
The interior minister also acknowledged a “loss of control” by police in some areas. In addition, he admitted that authorities had failed to deploy available security forces early enough.
Macron Calls for Accountability
The Élysée Palace said Macron wanted greater transparency over what he described as failures in anticipation and intelligence. These shortcomings, according to the president, contributed to the scale of the violence.
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The unrest erupted during demonstrations on Saturday. Official figures cited in the report indicated that nearly 1,000 law enforcement officers suffered injuries, while authorities made approximately 2,400 arrests.
Meanwhile, the government faced criticism from several local leaders. The mayors of Paris, Marseille and Limoges were among those who questioned the authorities’ response.
Nunez is expected to visit Marseille, one of the cities severely affected by the unrest. Authorities there reported that as many as 30,000 people took part in looting on Saturday.
Macron Vows Action Against Those Responsible
In a televised address on Sunday, Macron promised accountability for those responsible for the destruction.
“Those who sought to bring down the republic will be held accountable,” he said. He added that the violence had left the country feeling “anger and shame.”
However, further clashes and looting occurred late on Sunday in Paris, Lyon and Marseille. In the French capital, police arrested 92 people by around midnight following renewed incidents near Place de la République.
Government Assesses Economic Damage
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu is due to chair an interministerial crisis meeting at 10 a.m. local time on Monday. The meeting will assess the economic impact of the unrest, damage to businesses, insurance concerns and ongoing legal proceedings.
According to the Federation of Commerce and Distribution, the violence on Saturday targeted around 1,500 businesses. The estimated losses could reach several hundred million euros.
The government now faces the task of assessing the damage while addressing security concerns and the consequences for affected businesses and communities.
