OMM Newsroom
French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday rejected Interior Minister Laurent Nunez’s resignation after widespread violence and looting during protests last weekend, Anadolu Agency reported, citing broadcaster BFMTV.
Nunez submitted his resignation to Macron on Sunday amid mounting criticism of the authorities’ handling of the unrest. “I am the minister of the interior, I am responsible for everything that happens on the ground,” he told France Inter radio, explaining his decision.
Nunez acknowledged a “loss of control” by police in some cities and said there had been a “lack of anticipation” in deploying available security forces.
Macron decided to keep Nunez in office, citing the need for continuity in the security forces’ command during the crisis, according to a statement from the Elysee Palace. The president also called for greater transparency over what he described as “failures in anticipation and intelligence” that contributed to the scale of the violence.
The unrest began during demonstrations on Saturday, leaving nearly 1,000 law enforcement officers injured and resulting in approximately 2,400 arrests, according to official figures. The government’s response has drawn criticism from several local leaders, including the mayors of Paris, Marseille and Limoges.
Nunez is expected to visit Marseille, one of the cities hardest hit by the violence. Authorities reported that up to 30,000 people were involved in looting there on Saturday.
Macron vows action over destruction
In a televised address on Sunday evening, Macron vowed that those responsible for the destruction would be held accountable. “Those who sought to bring down the republic will be held accountable,” he said, adding that the country felt “anger and shame” over the violence.
Further clashes and looting were reported late Sunday in Paris, Lyon and Marseille. In the French capital, police arrested 92 people by around midnight after renewed incidents near Place de la Republique.
Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu is due to chair an interministerial crisis meeting at 10 am local time (0800 GMT) to assess the unrest’s economic impact, damage to businesses, insurance issues and ongoing legal proceedings.
The Federation of Commerce and Distribution said around 1,500 businesses were targeted during Saturday’s violence, with estimated losses of several hundred million euros.
