French President Emmanuel Macron has said "nothing justifies" the "unbridled" violence seen in nationwide cost of living protests this weekend.
"Tonight, we all feel anger and shame," Macron said in an address to the nation on Sunday, adding that there must be a distinction between protesters with "legitimate demands" with "those who destroyed, smashed, and looted".
"Those who have destroyed must pay," he said, vowing the government would be "uncompromising" towards those who had rioted.
He said "nothing justifies, nothing excuses" violence that he described as "unprecedented" and "unbridled".
Macron vowed that top officials would "make decisions in coordination with mayors to protect our cities, public buildings, and businesses."
‘Full transparency’
He pledged that senior officials would coordinate with mayors to protect cities, public buildings and businesses, and promised support for affected businesses.
“Seeing the streets of our cities ransacked in this way is unbearable,” he said.
Macron vowed there would be "full transparency" over the response by security forces to the protests, after criticism that police preparations had been inadequate.
He said he had asked Interior Minister Laurent Nunez to “draw all necessary lessons”, particularly on intelligence gathering and anticipation, adding that he expected “clear answers”.
Nearly 2,400 people were arrested on Saturday, while almost 1,000 police officers and gendarmes were injured, seven seriously, according to the Interior Ministry.
From student protests to nationwide unrest
The protests began last month over teacher shortages and poor school conditions before widening into a movement against inequality, spending cuts and rising living costs.
More than half a million people marched across France on Saturday.
While hundreds of thousands protested peacefully, violent groups looted shops and attacked public buildings. An arson attack largely destroyed Limoges’ historic town hall.
Fresh clashes broke out in Paris on Sunday, with police firing tear gas at Place de la Republique.
