Overview
- A commission of inquiry at the National Assembly opened hearings this week and on Tuesday questioned Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez as the first witness to determine who failed to prevent the violence of 17 October.
- Nuñez defended the continued use of so‑called intermediate means, saying police need grenades and tear gas to protect themselves, and he sent an internal message of support to officers on 2 November.
- Authorities and critics say the 17 October mobilization produced unprecedented damage, looting and injuries, and parliamentary work is focusing on lapses in intelligence sharing and operational planning that left the state underprepared.
- Public order measures continue to play out on the ground: the Préfecture de Paris banned a planned 3 November march and the organisers have lodged an appeal with the administrative court.
- The inquiry has prompted calls for testimony and evidence collection from opposition parties and activists, and its findings could change rules on crowd‑control tactics, affect public trust in policing, and influence political debate ahead of the presidential cycle.