PARIS – French President Emmanuel Macron has declined Interior Minister Laurent Nunez’s offer to resign after widespread weekend rioting, the Elysee presidential office said on Oct 19.
The demonstrations have been sparked by public anger over rising living costs, faltering public services and also the state of schools.
Macron said Nunez should stay to ensure a chain of command is retained within the police and security forces, and has also asked Nunez to set up as quickly as possible new approaches to deal with looters, the Elysee added.
Nationwide demonstrations erupted into riots on Oct 17, with a town hall torched, shops pillaged and buildings covered in graffiti as violent groups clashed with police in cities.
More clashes also broke out in Paris and Marseille on Oct 18, where riot police intervened to prevent attempts to ransack businesses. REUTERS