French President Emmanuel Macron rejected Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez’s resignation following a weekend of violent protests across France that resulted in approximately 2,400 arrests, widespread looting and extensive damage to public buildings and businesses.
The Elysee Palace announced Monday, October 19, that Macron had asked Nuñez to remain in office to maintain continuity in the leadership of police and security forces. The president also acknowledged failures in intelligence gathering and preparations for the unrest, ordering changes in how authorities respond to violent demonstrations.
Macron instructed the interior minister to introduce new measures as quickly as possible to combat looting and prevent further violence.
Thousands Arrested as Protests Turn Violent
According to the Associated Press, approximately 550,000 people participated in Saturday’s demonstrations, based on official estimates, while organizers put attendance at 800,000.
The protests were organized by labor unions, student groups and activists seeking to revive the Yellow Vest movement, which emerged in 2018 over living costs and social inequality.
Violence broke out in several cities, including Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Limoges. In Limoges, demonstrators set fire to the historic 19th-century City Hall, causing its roof to collapse and leaving much of the building destroyed.
In Paris, businesses were looted, vehicles and garbage bins were set on fire, and demonstrators clashed with riot police near Place de la République.
Authorities reported 855 arrests in the Paris region alone. Nationwide, at least 2,400 people were arrested, while nearly 1,000 police officers and gendarmes were reported injured.
Further clashes occurred Sunday in Paris and Marseille, where police intervened to prevent additional looting.
Paris police also reported that one person died of a heart attack during the unrest. Prosecutors opened an investigation into the circumstances.
Macron Condemns Violence as Political Pressure Mounts
In a televised address Sunday, Macron condemned the destruction and accused radical far-left groups and criminal elements of exploiting the demonstrations.
“Those who looted will have to pay for the damage, and those who sought to bring down the Republic will be held accountable,” Macron said.
He distinguished between peaceful demonstrators expressing concerns about economic conditions and those responsible for violence.
The president instructed local authorities to coordinate with mayors to protect public buildings and businesses, including through restrictions on demonstrations where necessary.
The unrest has also prompted criticism from opposition leaders ahead of France’s presidential election in 2027.
Far-right leader Marine Le Pen accused Macron’s government of being unable to maintain public order, while far-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon criticized Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu’s handling of the demonstrations.
Mélenchon, who participated in Saturday’s Paris march, said supporters of the protest movement should not engage in looting or destruction.
The mayors of Paris, Marseille and Lyon requested an urgent meeting with Lecornu to discuss the damage and the government’s response.
Meanwhile, French authorities opened investigations into serious injuries sustained by protesters, including a 17-year-old girl who lost an eye in Mulhouse and another demonstrator who lost a hand in Saint-Etienne.
See all the latest news from Greece and the world at Greekreporter.com. Contact our newsroom to report an update or send your story, photos and videos. Follow GR on Google News and subscribe here to our daily email!
