France has been plunged into crisis mode as Emmanuel Macron lamented "shame" over the spiralling violent disorder across the country.
In his address to the nation, the French leader confirmed Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu will be holding a "crisis" meeting tomorrow to address the increasingly chaotic situation on the streets.
Following yesterday's riots across the nation, which led to more than 1,800 arrests, Mr Macron said "we all feel both anger and shame" at the scenes of disorder.
"To see the cities, the streets of our cities, ransacked like this is unbearable," he added.
However, the French President acknowledged the anger felt among some of the protesters was "legitimate" - but insisted there is "nothing that justifies" the scale of the destruction caused by the rioting.
Mr Macron said: "Public buildings, shops and town halls were attacked and in some cases destroyed.
"Many hundreds of police officers were injured. When we saw the images, we all thought, what was in their heads? How can French people do this to France?"
The French leader explained the Prime Minister's crisis meeting tomorrow will help "mobilise support for all who are going through difficult times".
He explained: "Right now, we need to be very clear-minded. We need to look at what was expressed in the country. Several hundreds of thousands of our compatriots demonstrated with legitimate claims.
"We should never confuse the demonstrators with those who broke things and rioted and looted."
Shifting his focus to external geopolitical factors, Mr Macron said there were "legitimate claims about the cost of living and the price of fuel" driven by the war in Iran, with France being left to "face the consequences".
The President said intelligence services will be carrying out an investigation into the disorder with "as much diligence as possible", confirming the French Government has directed public prosecutors to be "as firm as possible".
He declared rioters who have "broken things and have to pay back will answer for what they have done".
Concluding the address, Mr Macron looked ahead to next year's presidential elections, urging for disgreements to be made in "public meetings with political parties, not on the streets through violence".
He said: "This debate needs to take place on the news, in newspapers and on TV stations, in peaceful meetings where people speak to one another with respect and never in disorder and rioting."
The French leader ended his speech by calling for the country to "unite" as he urged people to remain peaceful and have "respect for one another".
Prior to the address, National Rally leader Marine Le Pen delivered her own video broadcast, in which she warned France "must not, cannot, will not become accustomed to such scenes".
More to follow...
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