France: Interior Minister wants to resign after unrest - Macron refuses

After the serious riots in France, President Emmanuel Macron has rejected an offer to resign from Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez. Nuñez should remain in office in order to maintain the chain of command within the police and security forces, the presidential office in Paris said. As the statement goes on to say, Macron sees "failures" in planning police operations and obtaining information in advance of the violent excesses in several French cities. Macron asked Nuñez to ensure transparency in dealing with these failures and to develop new operational concepts for the security forces.

There was massive violence across France over the weekend and especially on Saturday. Shops were looted, buildings and vehicles went up in flames, and demonstrators fought bitter street battles with the police, who used tear gas, among other things. According to the Interior Ministry, 2,397 people were arrested. The violence left 997 police officers and other security forces injured, seven of them seriously.

Teacher shortages and social inequality as drivers

Macron condemned the "unbridled" violence in a televised speech on Sunday evening. "We all feel anger and shame tonight," he said. At the same time, the president called for a distinction to be made between demonstrators with “legitimate demands” and rioters. According to the organizers, the protests were directed against high costs of living and grievances in the education system.

The protests began in September because of the shortage of teachers in schools in socially disadvantaged areas. They are now generally directed against social inequality, cuts in public spending and inflation.

The unrest is putting additional pressure on Macron ahead of next year's presidential election. Macron himself is no longer allowed to run in the election. Polls point to an election victory for right-wing populist Marine Le Pen.