PARIS — France's Interior Minister Laurent Nunez acknowledged Monday that law enforcement forces lost control in several cities during a wave of violent protests that broke out nationwide over the weekend, according to reporting by France 24 — English.
Speaking on the government's response to the unrest, Nunez stated that authorities had struggled to maintain order as demonstrations escalated across multiple urban centers. He indicated that the policing strategy fell short as the disturbances spread throughout the country.
Failure in Preparations
Nunez pointed directly to operational missteps leading up to the unrest. He said there had been a lack of anticipation during the planning phases ahead of the weekend demonstrations, leaving security personnel unprepared for the scale and intensity of the violence that unfolded.
The admission follows intense scrutiny over the state's handling of the security operations as major incidents disrupted public order across French municipalities.
Resignation Offer Rejected
Facing fallout over the security response, the interior minister stated that he had tendered his resignation to President Emmanuel Macron. Nunez explained that he chose to step down because he felt responsible for everything that had transpired during the weekend unrest.
Macron, however, did not accept the resignation, keeping Nunez in his post as the administration continues to manage the aftermath of the protests.
