The unrest has intensified pressure on European governments as protesters demand action on rising living costs, access to education and affordable housing, with clashes, looting and arrests reported in several countries.
In France, Macron acknowledged “failures in anticipation and intelligence” and instructed Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez to ensure transparency over the shortcomings that contributed to the violence, according to a statement from the president’s office.
Macron also called on Nuñez to “put in place new operational methods for security forces” to manage the crisis.
The president rejected Nuñez’s offer to resign, saying continued leadership of law enforcement was necessary during the unrest, according to the Élysée Palace.
Meanwhile, Paris police said 351 people were detained in the capital on Sunday in connection with violence and looting.
In a statement published on X, the police department said groups consisting primarily of young people had attempted to loot and vandalize shops, stressing the need for “a firm response to such unacceptable behaviour.”
The latest incidents followed a weekend of widespread demonstrations across France, where protests escalated into confrontations with police and attacks on businesses and public buildings.
The unrest has also sharpened political divisions in France, where the demonstrations come months before the 2027 presidential election.
Macron, who cannot seek another consecutive term, faces criticism from both the left and the right over the government’s handling of the crisis.
Government ministers have blamed what they describe as “ultra-left” groups for the violence, while Marine Le Pen, the far-right presidential candidate for the National Rally party, accused the party of her left-wing rival Jean-Luc Melenchon of having “legitimized the violence.”
Left-wing critics, meanwhile, have accused Macron of failing to address protesters’ demands, while right-wing opponents have called for a tougher security response.
Beyond France, demonstrations over economic pressures and public services have exposed similar grievances in other European countries, although the protests have largely emerged from separate national movements rather than a single coordinated campaign.
In Belgium, hundreds of mostly young protesters clashed with police in Brussels, where student groups have been mobilizing against rising education costs and proposed reforms they fear could make higher education less accessible.
Police used tear gas and water cannon to disperse demonstrators during the weekend unrest, which followed weeks of student protests over university registration fees and education reforms.
In Portugal, tens of thousands of people marched through Lisbon to protest against rising living costs, low wages and the growing difficulty of finding affordable housing.
Housing prices in the country have more than doubled since 2017, intensifying an affordability crisis that has become a central concern for younger people and other residents struggling to secure accommodation.
Italy also witnessed confrontations between demonstrators and police as rallies against the cost of living turned violent in several cities.
In Milan, police used tear gas to clear the central cathedral square after a march descended into clashes, while officers in Bologna deployed water cannon and made several arrests following further violence, according to the ANSA news agency.
The demonstrations combined economic grievances with broader political and social demands, adding to pressure on the government to respond to public discontent.
In Albania, meanwhile, student demonstrations against perceived government corruption, limited employment opportunities and poor education standards entered a fifth day, with protesters calling for Prime Minister Edi Rama to step down.
Police fired what appeared to be rubber bullets at demonstrators, according to the reports, as the protests added to wider opposition to the government.
Although the demonstrations across Europe have different national triggers, rising living costs, housing affordability, education concerns and frustration with political leadership have emerged as recurring themes.