Macron rejects interior minister’s resignation offer after riots across France

Reports published on 19 October 2026 said French President Emmanuel Macron declined a resignation tendered by Interior Minister Laurent Nunez after a weekend of widespread rioting across France. Macron instructed him to remain in office to preserve command arrangements within the police and security forces.¹²⁴

Orders to change police operations

Macron asked Nunez to develop new ways of responding to looters as quickly as possible. The Guardian reported that the president also instructed him to “put in place new operational methods for security forces”, making changes to policing part of his response to the unrest.¹²

Nunez acknowledged that officers were not adequately prepared, according to The New York Times, which also reported his resignation offer. The Guardian quoted the minister as saying police had “lost control in some cities” and reported that shortcomings in intelligence and anticipation had compounded the crisis.¹³

The decision leaves Nunez responsible for carrying out the operational changes requested by Macron. According to the Elysee’s account reported by albawaba.net, the president asked the minister to draw up a new plan for responding to protesters and looters while maintaining the security forces’ command structure.¹²⁴

Damage and arrests across France

The Straits Times reported that nationwide demonstrations turned into riots on Saturday, with groups confronting police in cities. Its account described a town hall being set on fire, shops being looted and graffiti being left on buildings. It attributed the demonstrations to anger over living costs, public services and schools.²

At least 2,400 people were arrested across French cities during the unrest, according to The Guardian. The newspaper reported that public buildings had been burned and hundreds of shops destroyed and looted. The newspaper characterized Saturday’s turmoil as some of the worst seen in recent years.¹

Clashes continued in Paris and Marseille on Sunday, The Straits Times reported. Riot police intervened to stop attempts to loot businesses, according to the newspaper. Separately, albawaba.net reported that police used tear gas after several hundred protesters assembled at Place de la République.²⁴

Further protests announced

Macron condemned the violence in an address to the nation, describing it as “unbridled violence”, according to The Guardian. Albawaba.net reported that the address took place on Sunday evening and quoted him saying: “Those who destroyed must pay.”¹⁴

The yellow vest movement has announced another round of protests for 24 October and the following week, The Guardian reported. The movement said demonstrations would continue until a larger protest planned for 5 November, setting out further dates after the weekend’s unrest.¹