Macron Rejects French Interior Minister’s Resignation After Nationwide Protests Turn Violent

French President Emmanuel Macron has rejected the resignation offer of Interior Minister Laurent Nunez following nationwide protests that descended into violent riots, looting and destruction of public and private property.

The demonstrations, which took place on Saturday, October 17, 2026, were organised by students demanding improved educational conditions and residents protesting against the rising cost of living and deteriorating public services.

According to a statement from the Elysee presidential office on Monday, October 19, Macron asked Nunez to remain in office to ensure continuity in the leadership of the police and other security agencies.

The president also directed the interior minister to develop new strategies to tackle looting and other acts of violence that occurred during the demonstrations.

Macron further instructed Nunez to take all necessary measures to ensure transparency regarding alleged failures in security planning and intelligence gathering that contributed to the outbreak of violence.

The decision came after Nunez offered to resign, acknowledging that security forces had failed to maintain control in several major cities during the protests.

More than 500,000 people reportedly participated in the nationwide demonstrations, which witnessed widespread looting, arson and attacks on public infrastructure and commercial establishments.

Masked rioters reportedly targeted town halls, police stations and other government buildings, while several businesses were looted and damaged.

In Lyon, central-eastern France, forensic experts and police officers examined the remains of the city’s burned Tourism Office on Sunday following the unrest.

The French Interior Ministry reported that more than 2,300 people were arrested during the protests, while nearly 1,000 police officers and gendarmes sustained injuries.

Some protesters were also injured during confrontations with security personnel. One demonstrator reportedly lost a hand after being struck by a police crowd-control grenade.

Speaking on Monday, Nunez admitted that the police had lost control of the situation in some major cities.

He said the scale of the destruction and the number of businesses looted made it difficult for authorities to claim that they had effectively managed the unrest.

Nunez also acknowledged shortcomings in the deployment of security personnel, explaining that authorities had underestimated the scale of the violence and failed to deploy sufficient officers to deal with rioters and looters operating around the demonstrations.

He estimated that approximately 60,000 law enforcement personnel had been deployed across France on Saturday.

The interior minister said he considered his resignation appropriate given the extent of the damage caused during the unrest.

However, Macron’s decision to reject the offer indicates that the government wants Nunez to remain in charge while efforts are made to restore order and address concerns about the security response.

Meanwhile, incidents of looting continued in parts of France on Sunday, particularly in the capital, Paris.

Paris Mayor Emmanuel Gregoire said approximately 30 shops were targeted in the city on Sunday, describing the scenes as unbearable.

Nunez disclosed that about 350 people were arrested in Paris on Sunday and during the night.

Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin also confirmed that more than 2,330 people had been taken into police custody nationwide over the weekend, with adults accounting for approximately 70 per cent of those arrested.

The violent demonstrations followed weeks of protests by secondary school students against overcrowded classrooms, teacher shortages and inadequate investment in the education sector.

The movement has been described as one of France’s most significant youth-led protest campaigns in recent years.

Although the demonstrations initially focused on education, participation expanded to include people expressing frustration over rising living costs and declining public services.

The unrest has increased pressure on the French government to address the grievances of protesters while strengthening security measures to prevent further violence.

With Macron refusing to accept the interior minister’s resignation, attention is now focused on the government’s plans to restore public order, investigate security failures and prevent a recurrence of the widespread destruction.

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