Macron refuses minister’s resignation after huge protests rock France – Europe live

From 2h agoFrench president Emmanuel Macron has declined interior minister Laurent Nuñez’s offer to resign after widespread riots over the weekend, despite “failures in anticipation and intelligence” that were deemed to worsen the crisis engulfing the country.Macron said Nuñez should stay to ‌ensure a chain of command is retained within the police and security forces, and has also asked Nuñez to set up ‌as quickly as possible new approaches to deal with looters, ​the Élysée Palace added, quoted by Reuters.Macron has asked the minister to “put in place new operational methods for security forces” to get a grip over the crisis.

Saturday, one of the most violent days of unrest in years, left public buildings burned, hundreds of shops destroyed and looted and at least 2,400 people arrested in cities across the country.In a TV interview on Monday, Nuñez admitted that the police “lost control” in some cities during the protests.Riots in central Paris over the weekend, with 2,400 people arrested nationally.

Photograph: Poitout Florian/ABACA/ShutterstockIn an address to the nation last night, Macron criticised “unbridled violence”.Emmanuel Macron condemns violence in televised address – video“Watching these images, we have all asked ourselves how could French people do this to France?” he said.

Macron criticises ‘unbridled violence’ after days of unrest and 2,400 arrests across FranceRead moreI will bring you more updates on this today.Separately, I will also be keeping an eye on Ukraine, after another night of heavy attacks by Russia killing at least one and injuring eight people, and with conflicting reports about whether Kyiv authorities had been warned about the strikes.A police officer inspects the site of a fitness club building hit by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine.

Photograph: Valentyn Ogirenko/ReutersWe should also get an update from Sweden, as the parliament’s speaker is set to decide on the next step in the government formation process there.I will bring you all the key updates here.It’s Monday, 19 October 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.

Good morning.Key events26m agoProtesters block Louvre entrances in Paris as they back student campaign44m agoMarseille bans public gatherings, demonstrations today50m agoZelenskyy confirms no intelligence on overnight attacks, says US 'in denial' about Russia's position1h agoPolice clashes with protesters as protests spread to Italy, as fuel, fresh food shortages also hit south2h agoMorning opening: Macron declines offer of interior minister's resignation after weekend riotsProtesters blocked entrances to the Louvre museum in Paris in support of a nationwide high school student protest movement and to denounce “police repression”, the museum’s management and unions told AFP.

The museum could not open as scheduled because of a protest led by students from the Ecole du Louvre, management said. A leaflet displayed outside the museum read: “We are proud to announce that we are blocking the world’s largest museum.”Protesters and students from art and culture schools block the entrance to the Louvre in Paris, France.

Photograph: Abdul Saboor/ReutersBack to France, the authorities in Marseille have just issued a ban of any public gatherings and demonstrations “throughout the entire commune” from midday to 8pm.Violent clashes and damage occurred before the start of a protest on the Canebiere and at the Old Port against the high cost of living in Marseille, France. Photograph: Alain ROBERT/SIPA/ShutterstockMeanwhile, Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy has responded to the latest wave of Russian attacks on Ukraine, confirming Ukraine had no prior warning from the US and seemingly accusing Washington of being in the state of denial about the reality of the war.

A woman stands next to a damaged beauty store near a metro station, which was hit by an overnight Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine. Photograph: Valentyn Ogirenko/Reuters“Another Russian ballistic missile attack came in several waves overnight, and once again, there was no early warning from our partners,” he said.

“They again targeted energy facilities and infrastructure, but a medical clinic, a school, a metro station, and ordinary residential buildings were also damaged.”

Showing growing frustration with the attacks and continued criticism from US president Donald Trump, he said:

“Ukraine never wanted this war, and we have welcomed literally EVERY attempt by our partners to bring this war to a dignified end. We have responded positively to EVERY ceasefire proposal. Russia’s response, time and again, has been ballistic missiles, “shaheds,” and killings.

Putin not only doesn’t want to end this war – he doesn’t even want to take any steps toward de-escalation. EVERY ONE of our partners has experienced this firsthand when they heard Russia’s refusals.

And it is crucial to call things what they are. To call the aggressor an aggressor and help Ukraine defend lives. When deliveries of missiles for Ukraine’s air defence are blocked while Russia is granted relief or delays in sanctions, this is, unfortunately, a denial of reality on the part of our partners.

The reality is that the war continues, and it continues solely because of Russian strikes and Russia’s desire to drag this war out.”

in PalermoItalian police also clashed with protesters who threw stones and looted shops in Milan on Sunday during demonstrations over the rising cost of living, as lorry drivers blocked roads across southern Italy in protest at soaring fuel prices linked to the war in Iran.Demonstrators light flares during an anti-government protest organised by the Italia in Piazza movement, at Piazza Duomo in Milan. Photograph: Piero Cruciatti/AFP/Getty ImagesFootage showed police in riot gear firing teargas and using water cannon after several hundred hooded protesters smashed shop windows and set bins alight in the area around Piazza del Duomo in central Milan.

Second day of the demonstration "Italia in piazza" against the high cost of living in Milan, Italy. Photograph: Nicola Marfisi/AGF/ShutterstockSecond day of the demonstration “Italia in piazza” against the high cost of living in Milan, Italy. Photograph: Alessandro Bremec/NurPhoto/ShutterstockThe clashes echoed scenes of violence in neighbouring France, where hundreds of thousands of people angered by rising living costs and declining public services took to the streets on Saturday in some of the country’s most violent protests in years.

Meanwhile, lorry drivers have caused widespread disruption across southern Italy, blocking major roads and creating huge traffic jams in Sicily, Puglia and Calabria in protest at the mounting financial pressure on the haulage industry.A handwritten sign reading ''Tutto esaurito'' (All sold out) covers the diesel and petrol price board at a self-service petrol station in Barletta, Italy. Photograph: Matteo Della Torre/NurPhoto/ShutterstockHundreds of petrol stations have run out of fuel, while supermarkets are beginning to report shortages of several products, particularly fresh food.

Pharmacies have also been affected, raising concerns about disruption to essential supplies.“We are asking the government to urgently convene a meeting with industry associations. Otherwise, we will consider a nationwide strike,” said Pasquale Russo, president of Conftrasporto, an association representing Italian haulage companies.

“The situation is very concerning because the excessive price increases affecting the haulage industry have created a highly tense situation among transport companies, leading to spontaneous protests in some areas of the country,” he added.In several parts of southern Italy, petrol stations have run out of both petrol and diesel, with motorists facing long queues at the few filling stations still operating. The road blockades have also caused extensive traffic disruption, with fears growing that prolonged protests could further disrupt supplies of food, fuel and other essential goods.

Fuel pumps are cordoned off with red and white barrier tape at a Q8 Easy self-service station in Barletta, Italy. Photograph: Matteo Della Torre/NurPhoto/ShutterstockFrench president Emmanuel Macron has declined interior minister Laurent Nuñez’s offer to resign after widespread riots over the weekend, despite “failures in anticipation and intelligence” that were deemed to worsen the crisis engulfing the country.Macron said Nuñez should stay to ‌ensure a chain of command is retained within the police and security forces, and has also asked Nuñez to set up ‌as quickly as possible new approaches to deal with looters, ​the Élysée Palace added, quoted by Reuters.

Macron has asked the minister to “put in place new operational methods for security forces” to get a grip over the crisis.Saturday, one of the most violent days of unrest in years, left public buildings burned, hundreds of shops destroyed and looted and at least 2,400 people arrested in cities across the country.In a TV interview on Monday, Nuñez admitted that the police “lost control” in some cities during the protests.

Riots in central Paris over the weekend, with 2,400 people arrested nationally. Photograph: Poitout Florian/ABACA/ShutterstockIn an address to the nation last night, Macron criticised “unbridled violence”.Emmanuel Macron condemns violence in televised address – video“Watching these images, we have all asked ourselves how could French people do this to France?”

he said.Macron criticises ‘unbridled violence’ after days of unrest and 2,400 arrests across FranceRead moreI will bring you more updates on this today.Separately, I will also be keeping an eye on Ukraine, after another night of heavy attacks by Russia killing at least one and injuring eight people, and with conflicting reports about whether Kyiv authorities had been warned about the strikes.

A police officer inspects the site of a fitness club building hit by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine. Photograph: Valentyn Ogirenko/ReutersWe should also get an update from Sweden, as the parliament’s speaker is set to decide on the next step in the government formation process there.I will bring you all the key updates here.

It’s Monday, 19 October 2026, it’s Jakub Krupa here, and this is Europe Live.Good morning.