Paris: French President Emmanuel Macron has rejected the resignation offered by Interior Minister Laurent Nunez following widespread violence during demonstrations across France over the weekend. Macron said continuity in the leadership of the police and security forces was necessary as the government worked to restore public order.
The decision came after violent incidents on Saturday, October 17, left businesses damaged, public buildings attacked and police officers injured in several French cities. The unrest has raised questions about the authorities’ preparations for the demonstrations and their ability to anticipate the scale of the violence.
Macron has called on Nunez to introduce new operational methods to deal with looting and other acts of violence. The President has also acknowledged failures in anticipating the unrest and gathering intelligence, putting pressure on the government to explain what went wrong and how similar incidents can be prevented.
Nunez will remain in office while the government faces scrutiny over its handling of the crisis. Macron’s decision maintains the existing security leadership, but questions remain about the effectiveness of the police response and the protection of public property.
The demonstrations followed weeks of student protests and wider public discontent over rising living costs, school conditions and concerns about public services. While many people took part to express their grievances, violent groups were involved in clashes with police, looting and attacks on buildings.
The unrest affected several cities, including Paris, Marseille, Lyon and Limoges. In Limoges, the historic city hall was severely damaged by fire. Other incidents involved attacks on businesses and public property, raising concerns about the impact of the violence on local communities.
French authorities reported nearly 2,400 arrests following Saturday’s unrest. Nearly 1,000 police officers and gendarmes were reported injured, according to figures released by the authorities and cited in news reports. These figures may be revised as further information becomes available. Arrests do not necessarily mean that those detained have been convicted of offences.
Estimates of the number of people who joined the demonstrations also differed. French authorities put the turnout at approximately 550,000, while organisers estimated that around 800,000 people participated. The differing figures reflect competing assessments of the scale of the protests.
Macron condemned the violence and said those responsible for looting and attacks would be held accountable. However, his acknowledgement of failures in planning and intelligence gathering has intensified scrutiny of the government’s preparations. Authorities face questions about whether they had sufficient information about the risk of violence and whether security personnel were deployed effectively.
The response has also created tension between national officials and local leaders. In Marseille, Mayor Benoît Payan criticised aspects of the security arrangements following the violence. Authorities imposed a temporary ban on demonstrations and gatherings across the city on Monday, October 19, from noon until 8 pm.
Meanwhile, student action continued in Paris. On Monday morning, protesters blocked access to the Louvre Museum in opposition to what they described as police repression. The action disrupted the museum’s normal opening. It was a separate development from Macron’s decision to retain Nuñez, but it showed that tensions surrounding the protests had not fully subsided.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu chaired an interministerial crisis meeting on Monday to address the consequences of the unrest. Discussions covered the economic impact, businesses, insurance issues and judicial action. The government also faces pressure to clarify what measures will be introduced to improve security and protect vulnerable public buildings.
The unrest has attracted criticism from opposition politicians as France approaches its next presidential election, expected in spring 2027. However, the immediate challenge for the government is to restore public order, address concerns about security failures and respond to the grievances that brought large numbers of people onto the streets.
The crisis presents Macron with a difficult balance. The government must respond firmly to looting and attacks on public property while recognising that not all demonstrators were involved in violence. Distinguishing peaceful protesters from those responsible for criminal acts remains important to an accurate understanding of the unrest.
By rejecting Nuñez’s resignation, Macron has kept the existing security leadership in place while demanding changes to its operational approach. The effectiveness of those changes, and the government's willingness to explain the failures acknowledged by the President, will be central to the next stage of the crisis.
Further questions remain about the full extent of the damage, the final number of injuries and arrests, and the specific measures the government will introduce. Organisers have also announced plans for further demonstrations on Saturday, October 24, although their scale and impact remain uncertain.
Macron’s decision has settled the immediate question of whether Nuñez will leave office, but it has not ended the debate over the government’s handling of the violence. The authorities now face the task of improving public safety, supporting affected communities and explaining how such widespread disorder was allowed to develop.