Protests France, min. Interior submits resignation. Macron refuses: "Guarantee security"

French President Emmanuel Macron criticizes the "deficiencies" that led to the violent protests that shook the country, but rejected the resignation presented yesterday, October 18, by Interior Minister Laurent Nunez, given "the need to guarantee continuity in the leadership of the police force at this time", the Elysée says.

Nunez himself admits that the police have "lost control" in some cities, speaking of a "lack of foresight" in their preparations. Over the weekend there were 2,331 police stops: "70% concern adults, very often already known to the police", of which "over 80%" are the subject of judicial proceedings, said Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin.

Macron asked Nunez to "adopt all necessary measures to ensure transparency regarding the gaps in planning and intelligence that led to the violence" during the street demonstrations and to "introduce new operational methods for the security forces" in order to manage the crisis, putting an end to the phenomena of barricades and looting. Nunez is in Marseille today, where, according to the authorities, 30 thousand looters devastated several shops on Saturday 17 October.

Meanwhile, the Association of French Mayors has launched an appeal to organize rallies in front of town halls across the country starting from 12pm, in response to the violence, looting and burning of public buildings recorded on the sidelines of the demonstrations.

Macron attributes responsibility for the unrest not to all the demonstrators, but to "troublemakers belonging to a small far-left group, flanked by numerous criminals" and announced a crackdown: the prefects will be able to decide on measures to protect the cities, "up to banning some demonstrations". A message implicitly addressed to Jean-Luc Mélenchon's France Insoumise (LFI), the radical left party accused of inciting the protests.

"All those who today claim that the urgency is to take to the streets have only one objective: to steal the political debate", says Macron.

Mélenchon in turn accused Macron of aiming to "wear down" the situation. "We do not direct the popular movement. It directs itself through its unions and its assemblies. For three weeks, the deputies and elected representatives of LFI have intervened in the face of police violence. This is our role", he assures.