French government holds crisis talks following widespread riots

UPDATE - follow-up to France's government under pressure after weekend of widespread violence: Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu is holding a crisis cabinet meeting on Monday to assess severe violence and looting across France. President Emmanuel Macron urged calm in a national address after an estimated 1,500 shops and businesses were destroyed during protests by over half a million people against rising living costs and poor public services.

Official Actions And Reactions

Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez tried to hand in his resignation on Monday morning, but President Macron instead asked him to examine street safety and bring perpetrators to justice. Nuñez faces heavy criticism from political opponents and trade unions for being unprepared, while the head of the lower house of parliament, Yaël Braun-Pivet, wants to open an inquiry. CGT union secretary-general Sophie Binet accused Macron of failing to address student and public service concerns. Political figures including Jean-Luc Melenchon and Marine Le Pen blamed government incompetence and an exhausted administration, while Macron and Lecornu blamed radical far-left groups and delinquents.

Context

These events unfold against a backdrop of high political tension as France approaches a presidential election in six months with Macron facing a lame-duck status. Parliament remains deeply divided between three blocs, and the country faces severe pressure from investors over its public debt. Meanwhile, students begin their half-term break, but new mass demonstrations are already announced for 5 November.