French President Emmanuel Macron has rejected the resignation of Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez following a weekend of widespread riots, arson, and looting across major cities including Paris, Lyon, and Marseille.
Nuñez offered to step down after acknowledging a "lack of anticipation" by security forces that left some urban areas unprotected during demonstrations on Saturday and Sunday. The Élysée Palace announced that Macron refused the resignation, emphasizing the immediate need for continued leadership and law enforcement command to secure the streets and bring rioters to justice.
The unrest stems from student-led protests that began last month over dilapidated school conditions and teacher shortages, which have since expanded to include broader grievances concerning the rising cost of living. Authorities estimate that more than half a million people participated in Saturday's demonstrations nationwide. While the majority of protesters remained peaceful, some events descended into violent clashes, with public buildings targeted, shops looted, and tourist offices and city halls set on fire.
In response to the violence, the French cabinet convened an emergency meeting on Monday morning led by Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu. Meanwhile, mayors from Paris, Lyon, and Marseille called for an independent inquiry into police handling of the weekend events, and local authorities enacted temporary gathering bans in affected areas as sporadic demonstrations continued.