French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu convened an urgent cabinet session on Monday to review the weekend's outbreaks of violence and looting, which rank among the most intense episodes of civil unrest in contemporary French history.

On Monday morning the Élysée Palace stated that Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez had offered his resignation. President Macron instead directed him to develop plans for improving public safety and ensuring those behind the disturbances face prosecution.

More than half a million demonstrators, largely peaceful, marched on Saturday against rising living costs and weakening public services such as state education. The mood shifted when masked activists dressed in black and vandals entered the scene.

An estimated 1,500 shops and businesses were ransacked or damaged. Police responded with tear gas and water cannons while striking some individuals with batons. The interior ministry recorded roughly 1,000 officers injured, seven of them seriously.

Political opponents, several trade unions and social media users have faulted Interior Minister Nuñez for poor preparation and insufficient police presence before the scheduled protests.

Yaël Braun-Pivet, who leads the lower house of parliament, announced plans for an official inquiry into the events.

Graffiti stating "Things are dark in the City of Light" appeared in red paint on a wall beside shattered shopfronts in Paris on Sunday evening.

Rumors had circulated that President Emmanuel Macron might impose temporary curfews or declare a state of emergency to restore calm.

Instead Macron delivered a televised national address on Sunday appealing for unity and pledging that those responsible for the violence would be punished.

Media outlets across France have criticized the speech for offering few concrete steps.

Observers are now asking how vandals and rioters will be brought to justice, how towns and cities can be better protected ahead of further large demonstrations planned in two weeks, how destroyed businesses will receive compensation, and when dialogue will begin with students and teachers on education issues that first sparked the protests last month.

On Sunday CGT union leader Sophie Binet accused Macron of ignoring student concerns, the cost-of-living squeeze and the decline in public services.

The president has handed these matters to Prime Minister Lecornu. Macron is widely seen as a lame-duck leader nearing the end of his term.

A contested race to succeed him is already under way ahead of the vote in six months. Candidates from the nationalist right, including Marine Le Pen, and the anti-capitalist left, including Jean-Luc Melenchon, are competing for attention.

This contest is heightening tensions both in politics and on the streets.

Parliament remains gridlocked, split among three rival blocs.

France also faces mounting financial pressure as investors demand action on rising public debt. The government fears that cuts to services or welfare could trigger further street protests.

Questions about the country's direction and stability are being asked frequently.

Many people express dismay that leading politicians appear more focused on mutual blame than on solutions.

"While we worry for our safety, they use this situation as a pre-presidential election political football," teacher and father of three Edouard told reporters.

Macron and his prime minister attributed the chaos to radical far-left groups and delinquents. Jean-Luc Melenchon alleged government incompetence. Marine Le Pen released a video seated before the French flag in which she blamed the "Macronist administration that is out of steam, exhausted, and disoriented."

Authorities hope for a brief lull over the next two weeks as students begin half-term break on Monday.

On 5 November trade unions and the yellow jacket movement have called for major new protests.

France is holding its breath.