Macron promises French students 'concrete measures' after weeks of riots and admits authorities had 'not anticipated at all' the scale
Clashes between protesters and riot police in Paris, as largely peaceful nationwide marches turned violent by evening despite a 70,000-strong deployment that prevented the arson seen a week earlier.
On a visit to Marseille, where rioters briefly stormed City Hall on October 17, Emmanuel Macron blamed social media as 'tools for mobilising the worst impulses'. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu was due to meet student unions before unveiling the package. Changes to the Parcoursup university admissions platform are expected. France has already pledged 3,000 extra substitute teachers for struggling high schools.
Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said 1,435 people were arrested at Saturday's demonstrations.
Asked whether the Halloween protests would turn violent, Nunez replied: 'Clearly, yes.'
Unions have called a general strike for November 5, six months before the presidential election.
