MACRON CRISIS: President to hold EMERGENCY meeting amid deadly street violence

The President has been heavily criticised for his long silence and has been pressured to announce concrete measures to calm protests.

Since the start of the clashes, which have resulted in thousands of arrests, Mr Macron has written on his appreciation for the police on Twitter.

However, he has not yet addressed the country in a speech.

In a bid to defuse the unrest and the criticism, the French head is expected to consult with national and local officials, trade unions and employers’ organisations in the morning.

His Elysee office also confirmed he will speak to the French people for the first time in four weeks at 8pm (7pm GMT) this evening.

Senior officials from the palace have said the 40-year-old centrist would announce “immediate and concrete measures” to respond to protesters.

Government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux claimed yesterday on LCI TV station he was “sure Macron will know how to find the path to the hearts of the French, speak to their hearts”.

READ MORE: Paris riots PICTURES: TEAR GAS fired and HUNDREDS arrested

The clashes spring from the ‘yellow vests’ movement, which originally started as a protest against the government’s proposed fuel tax rises.

Mr Macron offered protestors a concession last week when he agreed to scrap the rise in the eco-tax aimed at reducing carbon emissions.

But the unrest in Paris continued into its fourth weekend, spilling out into other cities across France, as for many protesters, Macron himself, widely seen as arrogant and disconnected from rank-and-file French, has become the problem.

Calls for him to resign were rampant on Saturday.

In Paris, which was the worst hit city by the clashes, police prevented a concentration of destruction around the Champs Élysées, but instead inadvertently caused more widespread damage.

Much of the destruction was caused by gangs of “casseurs”, urban guerrillas determined to loot and pillage.

Protesters ripped off the plywood protecting Parisian store windows and threw flares and other projectiles.

Commenting on the damage to the economy, minister Bruno Le Maire said: “This is a catastrophe for commerce.

“It’s a catastrophe for our economy.”