PARIS/MILAN: French President Emmanuel Macron has refused to accept his interior minister's resignation after violent weekend protests across France, instead demanding stronger action against rioters and greater transparency over security failures.

On October 19, Macron told Interior Minister Laurent Nunez to develop new measures to stop barricades and looting. He also called for a clear explanation of intelligence failures that allowed the violence to spread, as the government faced growing political and economic pressure.

The unrest followed weeks of student demonstrations, some of which had turned violent. With France's next presidential election six months away, the protests have added to concerns about the country's weak economy, rising public debt and declining public services.

Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets over the weekend to protest against what they described as failing public services and the rising cost of living. Many complained that essential services were becoming increasingly unreliable, leaving ordinary citizens to manage growing financial pressures themselves.

Peaceful demonstrations in Paris, Marseille, Lyon and other cities were disrupted by violent groups. Shops were looted, buildings covered in graffiti, and a town hall was set on fire on October 17 as rioters clashed with police.

France deployed 60,000 police officers and other security personnel that day. However, Nunez acknowledged that the numbers were insufficient to control violent crowds in some cities.

The Elysee presidential office confirmed on October 19 that Nunez, a former Paris police chief, had offered to resign following the unrest. Macron rejected the offer and told him to act urgently.

The president also demanded that the minister investigate intelligence and planning failures that had left authorities unprepared for the violence.

Justice Minister Gerald Darmanin, a longtime Macron ally, also acknowledged shortcomings in intelligence gathering. Speaking to France 2 television on October 19, he said authorities had underestimated what he described as extreme-left rioters, leaving the state vulnerable.

The unrest has increased concerns about divisions within Macron's fragile government. The administration must also pass a crucial budget bill to control public finances. Political instability could further unsettle financial markets as investors assess France's economic outlook.

French government bonds came under pressure, pushing the yield on 10-year French debt up eight basis points to 4.86 percent. Germany's 10-year yield, a key eurozone benchmark, remained unchanged at 3.41 percent.

Jim Reid, an analyst at Deutsche Bank, warned that recent improvements in the difference between French and German borrowing costs could face renewed pressure. "The modest recovery in French spreads over the last week or so will be tested today," he said in a note.

Similar unrest occurred in other European countries, including Italy, Belgium and Albania, where demonstrations focused on living costs and public services. High fuel prices, partly driven by the war involving Iran, have added to household financial pressures.

In Milan, protesters clashed with police, looted shops and set fire to property over the weekend. Violence emptied Piazza del Duomo and a luxury shopping arcade that would normally attract large crowds.

The march against wars and rising living costs began peacefully before masked demonstrators threw stones and paving blocks at riot police. They also burned barricades made from bar tables.

Police used water cannons and tear gas to disperse the crowds. At least two officers were injured, while around 50 demonstrators, including many minors, were detained, according to the LaPresse news agency.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the violence in a social media post.