World

Macron Backs Interior Minister Amid Riots: 2,400 Arrested

Stateline MEDIA Newsroom•October 19, 2026•3 min read

French President Macron rejected the resignation of Interior Minister Nu├▒ez amid nationwide riots, citing continuity of command as nearly 2,400 were detained.

Key Facts

Menteri Dalam Negeri Prancis Laurent Nuñez mengajukan pengunduran diri pada Minggu malam (18/10/2026) di tengah gelombang kerusuhan nasional.
Kantor kepresidenan Élysée mengumumkan pada Senin pagi (19/10/2026) bahwa Presiden Emmanuel Macron menolak pengunduran diri tersebut.
Alasan Macron: menjaga kesinambungan rantai komando di tubuh kepolisian dan pasukan keamanan di tengah krisis yang masih berlangsung.
Nuñez ditugasi memastikan transparansi penuh atas kegagalan intelijen dan segera menyusun metode operasi baru menghadapi penjarah.
Selama akhir pekan, hampir 2.400 orang ditangkap dan 997 polisi, gendarme, serta pemadam kebakaran dilaporkan luka.
Satu demonstran tewas di Paris akibat henti jantung-pernapasan, menurut laporan kerusuhan 17-18 Oktober.
Balai kota Limoges dari abad ke-19 dibakar massa, kantor pariwisata Lyon dibakar, balai kota Marseille diserbu, dan kediaman prefek Bordeaux diserang.
Protes berawal dari tuntutan biaya hidup, layanan publik, dan kondisi sekolah; aksi 17/10 diikuti 550 ribu orang (versi pemerintah) atau 800 ribu orang (versi CGT).
Dalam pidato televisi Minggu malam sekitar pukul 20.00 waktu setempat, Macron mengakui adanya kegagalan intelijen dalam negeri.
Perdana Menteri Sébastien Lecornu diinstruksikan menggelar putaran konsultasi baru dengan berbagai kelompok masyarakat pekan ini.
Nuñez dijadwalkan mengunjungi Marseille pada Senin, di mana Wali Kota Benoît Payan menuntut penjelasan atas pengaturan keamanan kota.
Oposisi menyerang keras: Jordan Bardella menyebut pemerintahan 'pengecut dan kehilangan arah', Bruno Retailleau menuntut status darurat.

Macron Rejects Nu├▒ez's Resignation

Paris ΓÇö French President Emmanuel Macron has rejected the resignation offer of Interior Minister Laurent Nu├▒ez following weekend riots that swept across various French cities. The announcement was made by the ├ëlys├⌐e presidential palace on Monday morning (19/10/2026), after Nu├▒ez submitted his resignation letter on Sunday evening (18/10/2026).

According to the ├ëlys├⌐e, Macron asked Nu├▒ez to stay in office to maintain continuity in the chain of command across police and security forces. The president also tasked Nu├▒ez with urgently preparing new operational methods to tackle looters, as well as ensuring full transparency over intelligence failures ahead of Saturday's massive demonstrations (17/10/2026).

The Numbers Behind the Decision

Macron's decision comes amid massive fallout from the riots. Over the weekend, nearly 2,400 people were arrested across France, while 997 police officers, gendarmes, and firefighters were reported injured. One demonstrator died in Paris from cardiorespiratory arrest. Limoges' 19th-century city hall was set ablaze by rioters, Lyon's tourism office was also torched, Marseille's city hall was stormed, and the residence of the prefect of Bordeaux was attacked.

The protests, which turned violent, stemmed from grievances over the cost of living, public services, and school conditions. On Saturday (17/10/2026), around 550,000 people took part according to the government, or 800,000 according to the CGT (General Confederation of Labour) trade union. Looting occurred in Paris, Marseille, and Bordeaux.

Intelligence Transparency as a Condition to Stay

In a televised address Sunday evening around 8:00 p.m. local time, Macron acknowledged domestic intelligence failures. 'I expect clear answers, and full transparency will be ensured,' Macron said. He tasked Nu├▒ez with ensuring that transparency while devising a new approach on the ground to crack down on rioters.

Macron also instructed Prime Minister S├⌐bastien Lecornu to hold a new round of consultations with various civil society groups as soon as possible this week. Nu├▒ez is scheduled to visit Marseille on Monday, where Mayor Beno├«t Payan demanded an explanation regarding the security arrangements in the city that was stormed by crowds.

Macron's Political Gamble

The decision to retain Nu├▒ez is not without risks. Opposition figures from right to left attacked the government: Rassemblement National president Jordan Bardella called the government 'cowardly and directionless', Les R├⌐publicains presidential hopeful Bruno Retailleau demanded a state of emergency be declared, while leftist presidential candidate Jean-Luc M├⌐lenchon condemned police violence.

Macron chose instead to keep security command intact amid the crisis ΓÇö a gamble that replacing a minister during riots would be more perilous than retaining a criticized one. Sunday evening's speech was also an effort to reassure the public and financial markets, right before Macron begins a three-day tour to the Middle East this Monday.