French President Emmanuel Macron has refused Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez’s offer to resign in the wake of a weekend of nationwide rioting, looting and arson, the presidential office said on Monday.
According to Reuters, Macron has asked Nuñez to stay in the post “to preserve the chain of command” in police and security services. But he’s asked him to draw up a set of new policies to address the rampages.
The protests erupted on Saturday when thousands of people across the country took to the streets against spiralling living costs, worsening public services and dismal school conditions. During the peaceful demonstrations, which saw many strikers march on the streets, others clashed with police, looted shops and attacked government buildings.
In the French city of Limoges, the old town hall was torched and municipal buildings and shops were vandalised in Marseille and Lyon. More violence flared in the French capital of Paris and Marseille on Sunday, leading to police intervening to prevent further looting.
Macron, who made a televised statement on Sunday that condemned the violence, assured that those committing the looting would have to bear the damage and “those who wished to damage the republic will be taken to account,” according to the Associated Press.
The turmoil has added to the tension facing Macron’s government as the country struggles with people’s discontent over living costs and public services.
