Macron promises tough punishments for rioters during nationwide day of action

Nearly 2,400 arrests were made and 997 police and gendarmes were injured during clashes with hooded and masked demonstrators who looted shops and offices.

In eastern France, the Mulhouse prosecutor's office said an investigation had been opened after a 17-year-old girl was injured during the protests and lost an eye. In Saint-Etienne, south-eastern France, an inquiry was underway into how a 17-year-old had his hand blown off by a grenade thrown by security forces.

"How can we have got here?" Macron asked during his 10-minute address. "There is nothing that justifies it. Nothing that explains it. Nothing that excuses it. We are all feeling anger and shame tonight. To see the streets of our cities ransacked like this is unbearable."

'Punishments in the name of the French people'

Macron said judges would hand out punishments in the name of the French people.

"They know what you [the people] are expecting," he added. "Every time crimes are committed, they need to give rise to legal sanctions. Those who have broken things have to pay and pay back. They will answer for what they have done to the Republic."

Macron's comments followed emergency meetings with Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu as well as the Education Minister Édouard Geffray and the Interior Minister Laurent Nunez 

He said Lecornu would head a crisis meeting to organise support for the businesses targeted during the waves of rioting. 

Raids on town halls

In Marseille, southern France, two dozen protesters broke into the town hall and rampaged through the building smashing statues and furniture.

In Limoges in central France, firefighters battled through the night to extinguish a blaze that effectively reduced the 143-year-old town hall to rubble.

"How can French people do this to France?" said Macron. "Why would the town Hall of Limoges be burned down? The tourist office in Lyon? Why would the town hall in Marseille be invaded or the prefecture in Bordeaux?"

The president hailed the police and emergency workers who were hurt during the day in which 550,000 people took to the streets.

"I want to congratulate our forces of order," said Macron. "They stood strong and did their best. I think of all of the injured officers and their families.

"I want to express my support to all of our mayors and elected representatives. I want to state my support to all of the shopkeepers, artisans and traders who have faced violence and don't know what to do today.

"Some of them tried to defend their shops themselves against these criminals. I want to tell them they will not be on their own facing these difficulties. The government will provide answers."

Gulf trip confirmed

Macron, who confirmed he would leave on Monday for a four-nation tour of the Gulf, insisted the authorities would not confuse the demonstrators with the rioters.

"There are legitimate claims about the cost of living and the price of fuel," he said.

"Many of the reasons for this are in the Persian Gulf War, and France was not a part of it [the war]. But we face the consequences. We share their concern. This concern is shared in many other capitals around Europe.

"I've taken a number of initiatives on an international level in order to ensure that we have fuel and gas and will continue to do so by visiting the Gulf countries in order to secure our supply."

In a conciliatory move, Macron promised to listen to the demands of high school pupils who have gone on strike in demand of more teachers and better conditions in school buildings.

'No future'

"They're saying in some sense that there is no desirable future," said Macron. "We need to listen to what they're saying without making any assumptions or minimising what they're saying.

"We should never confuse the legitimate claims with the violence, but we mustn't let the violence stop the legitimate claims being heard."

He said regional police chiefs would have powers to ban gatherings deemed a danger to shops and buildings.

He also urged all the political parties to issue clear public statements condemning the violence

"The choices for the future that you will have to make in six months are essential choices," he said.

'France is a democratic force'

"France is a major democratic force. Our country deserves a good presidential election," Macron added.

"This is really important and it requires a spirit of responsibility. Yes to dialogue and the preparation of the future. But once again, no to violence in any form. We need to unite, be calm and to respect one another."

Minutes after the end of Macron's speech, Jordan Bardella, the leader of the National Rally, took to social media to lambast the president's effort as deplorable.

French students return to streets despite government bid to ease crisis

"This cowardly and disoriented government has nothing left to say to the French people, nothing left to offer them," Bardella added. "It no longer even has the strength to protect them."

Manuel Bompard, coordinator of LFI (France Unbowed), criticised Macron for failing to offer a concrete response to the demands of the protesters.

“The demands remain tonight,” Bompard told French broadcaster LCI.  "On every aspect of the problem, Macron has announced absolutely nothing.

“He spoke without saying anything. It is absolutely irresponsible to speak tonight and say nothing."

Hours before Macron's address, US President Donald Trump linked the unrest to immigration.

“Close your Borders and take control, before it is too late!” he wrote.