Macron rejects Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez’s resignation and orders a review after violent demonstrations leave thousands arrested.
PARIS, FRANCE — WEB DESK: French Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez has acknowledged that police lost control in some major cities during violent nationwide protests over the weekend, prompting President Emmanuel Macron to order a review of security planning and intelligence failures.
Nuñez admitted that authorities had failed to anticipate the scale of the unrest after demonstrations against the cost of living and poor school conditions escalated into looting, fires and damage to public buildings and businesses.
More than 2,500 people were arrested, while nearly 1,000 members of the security forces were injured, according to figures reported AFP.
French interior minister acknowledges security failures
Speaking on Monday, Nuñez acknowledged that police had been unable to maintain control in some cities as large crowds gathered and violence spread.
He also conceded that preparations for the demonstrations had been insufficient, particularly in anticipating the number of people who would participate and deploying enough security personnel to manage the situation.
The minister said approximately 60,000 law enforcement personnel had been deployed nationwide on Saturday. Despite that mobilisation, police struggled to contain rioting and looting in several urban centres.
Nuñez offered his resignation, saying he felt responsible for the damage and failures in the government’s response.
Macron rejects minister’s resignation
President Emmanuel Macron rejected Nuñez’s resignation, with the presidency citing the need for continuity in law enforcement leadership.
Instead, Macron instructed the interior minister to ensure transparency regarding failures in planning and intelligence that contributed to the violence.
The president also called for new operational methods for security forces to tackle rioting, barricades and looting.
The decision keeps Nuñez in office while the government faces questions about whether authorities adequately prepared for demonstrations that grew substantially beyond expectations.
Protests over living costs and education
The unrest followed several weeks of student-led demonstrations over school conditions, including concerns about overcrowded classrooms, teacher shortages and underinvestment in education.
Broader public frustration over the cost of living also contributed to the protests.
Organisers and activists sought to revive aspects of the Yellow Vest movement, which emerged in 2018 amid anger over economic pressures and social inequality.
While many people participated in demonstrations, violent incidents on the fringes of the gatherings resulted in clashes, arson and the looting of shops.
Damage reported across French cities
Several cities experienced serious disruption, including Paris, Marseille and Lyon. Public buildings and commercial premises were damaged, while fires affected structures in other parts of the country.
Paris officials also reported further targeting of shops on Sunday, indicating that unrest had continued after the main nationwide demonstrations.
Authorities have faced pressure to establish how violence spread despite the large security deployment. The government has also signalled that local authorities could restrict certain rallies if necessary.
