Macron Rejects Interior Minister Nuñez’s Resignation Offer Following Weekend of Nationwide Riots

PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron has turned down an offer of resignation from Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez in the wake of widespread rioting across France over the weekend, the Élysée Palace announced on Monday.

According to the presidential office, Macron told Nuñez that he should remain in his post in order to preserve the chain of command within the police and security forces at a critical moment. The President also instructed the Interior Minister to put in place, as swiftly as possible, new measures to tackle looting.

The unrest grew out of nationwide demonstrations fuelled by public frustration over the rising cost of living, strained public services and conditions in the country’s schools. On Saturday, the protests descended into violence in several cities, where a town hall was set ablaze, shops were looted and buildings were defaced with graffiti as violent groups clashed with police. Fresh confrontations were later reported in Paris and Marseille, where riot police moved in to stop attempts to ransack businesses.

Addressing the nation in a televised speech on Sunday, Macron condemned the scenes of violence as shocking, declaring: “Nothing justifies it, nothing explains it, nothing excuses it.” He announced that prefects and mayors would be empowered to prohibit certain gatherings where required.

The President has further called on the government to convene students, teachers, lawmakers, trade unions and business leaders this week with the aim of drawing up concrete proposals to address the crisis.

The decision to keep Nuñez in office came after an interministerial crisis meeting chaired by Macron at the Élysée Palace on Sunday, attended by Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin and the Interior Minister.