French government holds crisis meeting following weekend of violent protests

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu convened a crisis cabinet meeting on Monday to address ongoing nationwide unrest over rising living costs and diminishing public services. Demonstrations continued into Sunday following a massive turnout on Saturday, where local authorities estimated 550,000 participants while organizers reported approximately 800,000.

While many demonstrations remained peaceful, severe clashes, arson, and looting erupted in several cities, leading security forces to make nearly 2,400 arrests over the weekend. President Emmanuel Macron promised that "full transparency will be ensured" regarding the government's response. However, persistent violence on Sunday night has intensified political pressure on the administration as it attempts to restore order without exacerbating public dissatisfaction.

Sources: BBC News, Bloomberg, France24, Politico Europe (Defense), The Guardian.