Paris, 19 October. French President Emmanuel Macron has rejected the resignation of Interior Minister Laurent Nunez, submitted after violence and looting during last weekend's protests; the Elysee Palace cited the need for continuity in the command of the security forces during the crisis (Anadolu, Anadolu).
Nunez submitted his resignation on 18 October amid criticism of how the authorities had handled the unrest. "I am the minister of the interior, I am responsible for everything that happens on the ground," he told France Inter radio, acknowledging a police "loss of control" in some cities and a "lack of anticipation" in deploying the available forces. Macron, according to Anadolu, called for greater transparency over the "failures in anticipation" (Anadolu).
According to official figures, Saturday's violence affected around 1,500 businesses and nearly 2,400 people were arrested (Anadolu); AFP, citing the Interior Ministry, gives the exact figure of 2,397 detained at the protests against the rising cost of living (TASS). In a video address, Macron said the protesters' voices "must be heard, without prejudice and without minimising the difficulties" (RBC).
Background: Cost-of-living unrest also hit Italy: more than 270 people were detained in Milan over two days, La Repubblica reports (TASS).
List of sources used: Anadolu, Anadolu, TASS, RBC, TASS
Artificial intelligence was used in preparing this material.
