French President Emmanuel Macron has rejected Interior Minister Laurent Nunez’s offer to resign following widespread rioting across the country over the weekend.
The Elysee presidential office announced the decision on Monday, saying Macron wanted Nunez to remain in office to maintain the chain of command within the police and security forces.
Macron also asked the interior minister to develop new approaches to tackling looting as quickly as possible, the presidency added.
The demonstrations were driven by public anger over rising living costs, declining public services and the state of schools.
Protests across France descended into riots on Saturday, with a town hall set ablaze, shops looted and buildings defaced with graffiti as violent groups clashed with police in several cities.
Further clashes broke out in Paris and Marseille on Sunday, where riot police intervened to stop attempts to ransack businesses.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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