Macron declines interior minister’s resignation after violent protests in France

French President Emmanuel Macron has refused the resignation offer of Interior Minister Laurent Nunez following widespread violent protests across France, according to Al Jazeera and Reuters.

The protests involved students demanding better educational conditions and citizens protesting the high cost of living, with more than half a million people participating nationwide. The unrest included looting, arson, and attacks on government buildings in multiple cities such as Paris, Lyon, and Marseille.

Interior Minister Nunez acknowledged that police lost control during the demonstrations, with over 2,300 arrests made and nearly 1,000 police officers injured. One protester reportedly lost a hand due to a police crowd-control grenade.

President Macron instructed Nunez to remain in his position to maintain the chain of command within police and security forces. Macron also asked him to develop new strategies to end barricades and looting and to ensure transparency regarding intelligence and planning failures that contributed to the violence.

The unrest comes amid ongoing economic challenges and six months before France’s next presidential election, with the government facing pressure to pass a budget bill to address financial concerns.

Macron’s office emphasized the need for accountability and improvements in security management, while the Interior Ministry confirmed the scale of the violence and the challenges faced by law enforcement during the protests.