French President Emmanuel Macron has urged political parties and trade unions to condemn violence unequivocally after protests against the rising cost of living turned into riots in cities across France on Saturday.

In a televised address published on Sunday evening, Macron said the whole country felt anger and shame at the scenes.

He stressed France needs order and calm, not escalation.

The French president promised that those responsible would face justice.

“Those who destroyed must pay. Those who looted must pay back,” he said.

Macron noted that several hundred police officers and gendarmes had been injured.

Hundreds of thousands of people took part in the demonstrations, which were fuelled by anger over living costs, struggling public services and the state of schools.

But the protests were overshadowed by attacks on public buildings, systematic looting of shops and clashes with police.

The town hall in Limoges was burned, and Macron also cited an attack on the prefect’s residence in Bordeaux.

Industry groups estimate that around 1,500 businesses were affected, with losses running into hundreds of millions of euros.

The interior ministry said nearly 2,400 people had been detained by Sunday evening.

Fresh looting attempts in Paris on Sunday led to 42 more arrests, and there were further clashes in the capital city and Marseille.

Macron blamed the violence on “far-left” fringe groups, joined by many criminals.

He distinguished them from protesters, whose demands he called legitimate.

The president linked the fuel price concerns to the conflict in the Persian Gulf, in which he said France had taken no part, and announced he would travel to the region on Monday to secure energy supplies.

He also acknowledged the concerns of young people, and announced that the prime minister would bring together students, teachers, unions, employers and MPs this week to draw up proposals.

On security, he said prefects and mayors would take steps to protect cities, including banning some gatherings where necessary.

He promised transparency over Saturday’s policing strategy and asked the government to draw lessons on intelligence and anticipation.

The unrest comes six months before the first round of the presidential election in April 2027.

Macron said those urging people onto the streets to create disorder wanted only to “damage the Republic and steal the debate.”

He argued that political views should be aired in public meetings, the media and peaceful gatherings

Before the presidential address, Bruno Retailleau, leader of the conservative Republicans, called for a state of emergency.

Politicians on the left and far right urged the dismissal of Interior Minister Laurent Nunez, and former President François Hollande called for “serious negotiations” with youth organisations and unions.

On Monday, the Elysee said Macron had declined Nunez’s offer to resign, arguing that he should stay to preserve the chain of command within the police and security forces.

The president also asked the interior minister to draw up new ways of dealing with looters as quickly as possible.

Meanwhile, there were similar scenes in Milan, Italy, where several hundred demonstrators protesting against rising living costs attacked police and damaged their vehicles in Piazza del Duomo.

They also set fire to restaurant tables, and police responded with tear gas.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni condemned the violence and urged the centre-left opposition to do the same.