Macron Refuses Interior Minister's Resignation Amidst Rioting

President Emmanuel Macron has rejected the resignation offer from Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez, who had offered to step down following a weekend of widespread rioting and looting in major French cities. Macron’s office stated that Nuñez must stay to address the needs of law enforcement during what is described as an emergency situation.

Macron instructed Nuñez to implement measures ensuring full transparency regarding failures in planning and intelligence gathering that contributed to the violence. He also called for the swift introduction of new policing tactics to quell the unrest.

The unrest saw groups setting fires to public property and looting businesses in cities including Paris, Lyon, and Marseille. The violence erupted on Saturday during nationwide protests initially sparked by rising living costs and poor school conditions. Authorities reported approximately 2,400 arrests across the country.

Nuñez took responsibility for the events, stating on France Inter radio, "I submitted my resignation because I am responsible for everything that is happening." He emphasized the need for better anticipation of such mobilizations and acknowledged that police strategy requires adaptation to counter highly mobile groups.

He attributed the violence to "hordes of troublemakers and looters" and "far-left activists." Authorities reported that groups numbering in the hundreds engaged in confrontations with police and targeted public buildings, including city halls. Nuñez admitted that authorities had "lost control" in some major cities on Saturday, where hundreds of businesses were looted.

The City Hall in Limoges, a 19th-century building, was engulfed in flames, causing its roof to collapse. In response to the widespread disorder, authorities in Marseille banned protests and gatherings for several hours on Monday.