Macron Admits Failures as France Faces Violent Protest Unrest

President Emmanuel Macron acknowledged "failures" after days of violent unrest across France, as the cabinet prepared to hold an emergency meeting on October 19, 2026. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said police "lost control" during protests over the weekend. Al Jazeera

The admissions followed nationwide protest marches on Saturday in which clashes between police and protesters, massive looting and multiple blazes gripped the country. AFP

The government had earlier said the protest movement had been hijacked by outsiders and had in some places deteriorated into urban violence. Reuters Police had arrested 6,877 people, mostly minors, as of October 10. The interior minister had paused the use of stun grenades pending investigation into a student's loss of a hand. Reuters

Nuñez faced calls for his resignation after the violence of October 17. Essayist Laurent Obertone told Europe 1 that Nuñez's resignation would be "the minimum" after the October 17 security failure. Europe 1 Macron refused Nuñez's resignation as of October 19. Le Monde

Nuñez was expected in Marseille on the afternoon of October 19. Gatherings in the city were banned from 12:00 to 20:00 that day. Le Monde