Macron holds the far left responsible for the violence and conveys his support to the police and traders

French President Emmanuel Macron has accused the "far left" ofbeing responsible for the violence that occurred on Saturday following the protests over the price of life ; he has supported the police and traders; and he has stressed that those who caused the damage " will pay for it. "

"Tonight, I speak to you at a very serious moment. Yesterday, Saturday, October 17, extremists from an ultra-left group, along with many criminals (...), looted shops and destroyed public buildings. Why burn the Limoges Town Hall? (...) How did they get to this? Nothing explains, nothing justifiesit.

He has also acknowledged that the police intelligence services underestimated the violence of Saturday's protest day and has urged the government to draw all conclusions and do so transparently.

"Yesterday, law enforcement officers were subjected to unprecedented violence, and I have asked the government to take all necessary lessons from the intelligence service and to be fully transparent. Investigations will be conducted with the utmost firmness," Macron said in his speech.

"Those who have committed this destruction must pay, those who tried to overthrow the Republic will be held accountable," he warned.  

The French president has also called on political partiesand trade unionsto "unambiguously" condemn violent actions during the protests and has stated that France needs "order" rather than escalating tensions.