Macron refuses Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez's resignation after riots and looting during France's October 17 protests

Timeline

8 timeline entries on this page. Dates: October 17, 2026 to October 19, 2026

1. October 2026

   1. October 172026October 17, 2026

      Protesters briefly force their way into Marseille city hall

      Incident

      Several dozen protesters break down the door of Marseille city hall on the Vieux-Port and briefly enter its hall before security forces disperse them.

      [01]Agence France-Presse

      Agence France-Presse news post on its Bluesky account during the October 17, 2026 protests.

      AFP post on protesters entering Marseille city hall · Agence France-PresseBluesky post 3my2zqdooio2m (in French)
   2. October 172026October 17, 2026

      Payan says he had to call for reinforcements; the prefect cites 7,000 to 8,000 rioters

      Reaction

      Marseille's mayor says he had to telephone the president, the prime minister and the interior minister for reinforcements. The Bouches-du-Rhône prefect says the city faces 7,000 to 8,000 looters and rioters.

      [02]Violences à Marseille: le maire "demande des comptes", le préfet dénonce des milliers "d'émeutiers"

      Report published on the evening of October 17, 2026 on the press statements of Marseille mayor Benoît Payan and Bouches-du-Rhône prefect Jacques Witkovski after protesters forced their way into Marseille city hall and shops were looted.

      Violences à Marseille: le maire "demande des comptes", le préfet dénonce des milliers "d'émeutiers"Article text, paragraphs 1-8 (in French)
   3. October 182026October 18, 2026

      Opposition politicians call for Nuñez to resign

      Reaction

      Politicians from La France insoumise, the Greens and the Rassemblement national call for the interior minister's resignation, some faulting the policing doctrine and preparation and others his failure to contain the violence.

      [03]"Il n'y a pas d'autre issue que sa démission": Laurent Nuñez sous le feu des critiques après les violences du 17 octobre

      Report by LCP, the National Assembly's television channel, on calls from the left and the Rassemblement national for the interior minister to resign, and on his response.

      "Il n'y a pas d'autre issue que sa démission": Laurent Nuñez sous le feu des critiques après les violences du 17 octobreArticle text (in French)

      [04]Éric Coquerel

      The La France insoumise deputy posted this on X on October 18, 2026, the day after the protests.

      Éric Coquerel's X post calling for Laurent Nuñez to resign · Éric CoquerelX post 2111806424489623572 (in French), first post of a thread

      [05]Laure Lavalette

      The Rassemblement national deputy posted this on X on the morning of October 18, 2026. An hour earlier she had posted that it was 10:52 on October 18 and Nuñez had still not resigned.

      Laure Lavalette's X post on Laurent Nuñez and the presidential election · Laure LavaletteX post 2111756014626415047 (in French)
   4. October 182026October 18, 2026

      Nuñez backs the security forces and blames ultra-left individuals

      Claim

      Nuñez says the first attacks were committed by several thousand ultra-left individuals later joined by looters, reports more than 2,000 arrests and more than 600 injured officers and firefighters, and gives the security forces his full support.

      [06]Laurent Nuñez

      France's interior minister posted this statement on X on the morning after the October 17, 2026 day of protests against the cost of living.

      Laurent Nuñez's X post after the October 17 protests · Laurent NuñezX post 2111774348839133668 (in French)
   5. October 182026October 18, 2026

      Marseille police prefecture cites 8,000 rioters and more than 30,000 looters

      Claim

      According to the police prefecture, the violence in Marseille involved 8,000 rioters and more than 30,000 looters at its peak. It reports 118 injured members of the security forces and 99 people in custody.

      [07]Après les pillages à Marseille, les élus réclament des aides d'urgence pour les commerçants

      Local report from October 18, 2026 giving the police prefecture's figures for the violence in Marseille and the mayor's comments to the press.

      Après les pillages à Marseille, les élus réclament des aides d'urgence pour les commerçantsArticle text, opening paragraphs (in French)
   6. October 182026October 18, 2026

      Macron addresses the nation

      Reaction

      In a televised address, Macron says the country feels anger and shame and calls for protesters with legitimate demands not to be confused with those who destroyed and looted.

      [08]Agence France-Presse

      Agence France-Presse news post on President Macron's televised address of October 18, 2026.

      AFP post on Emmanuel Macron's address after the October 17 violence · Agence France-PresseBluesky post 3my6bhvgggc2i (in French)
   7. October 192026October 19, 2026

      The Elysee says Macron refused Nuñez's resignation

      The Elysee says Macron received Nuñez's resignation on Sunday, October 18, and kept him in office, citing the need for continuous command of the security forces. Macron asks him to deploy a new policing doctrine against rioters.

      [09]Agence France-Presse

      Agence France-Presse news posts, published together on October 19, 2026, reporting that the Elysee said Macron had received and refused the interior minister's resignation.

      AFP posts on Emmanuel Macron refusing Laurent Nuñez's resignation · Agence France-PresseBluesky posts 3my7jvxyppz25 and 3my7jvyi3ow2a (in French)
   8. October 192026October 19, 2026

      Payan disputes the prefecture's figures as Nuñez heads to Marseille

      Reaction

      AFP reports that Payan called the prefecture's figure of up to 30,000 looters fanciful and had denounced a lack of police on the day. Nuñez is due in Marseille that afternoon.

      [10]Agence France-Presse

      Agence France-Presse news post from October 19, 2026, part of a thread on the ban on protests in Marseille that day.

      AFP post on Laurent Nuñez's visit to Marseille and Benoît Payan's criticism · Agence France-PresseBluesky post 3my7ritfcja2w (in French)