Macron Retains France’s Interior Minister After Violent Weekend Protests

Nuñez submitted his resignation to Macron on Sunday, October 18, according to a statement from the Élysée Palace. The decision to retain him was reported on October 19, after the unrest triggered political recriminations and renewed scrutiny of public-order management.

The Élysée said Macron refused the resignation because continuity of command of the security forces was needed in the current situation. The move leaves Nuñez responsible for France’s interior ministry and its policing and security response as the government confronts the aftermath of the protests.

Nuñez acknowledged that police had lost control during the weekend protests, including in some French cities. Macron criticized failures and shortcomings in the management of public order, according to reporting by Deutsche Welle, ANSA and the Financial Times.

The political response has therefore combined continuity with an admission that the existing response fell short. Macron’s refusal to accept the resignation keeps the same minister in charge while placing responsibility on the government to address the failures identified after the violence.

EL PAÍS reported that Macron asked Nuñez to pursue new methods of police intervention against violent groups. The supplied reporting does not specify which methods would be adopted or when, and it does not establish the full extent of operational failures or arrests.