France recalibrates after protests as 1,800 arrests and mayors' warnings shake Macron's government

France is repositioning after an eruption of anger, with 1,800 arrests from Saturday's protests and mayors denouncing a lack of resources to contain violence. President Emmanuel Macron will address the nation Sunday at 8 p.m. Interior Minister Laurent Núñez defended police actions amid criticism over violence against student protesters. Demonstrations spread beyond students to workers protesting rising living costs, with clashes involving burning urban furniture and projectiles. Several mayors reported insufficient means to manage the unrest. Economist Thomas Piketty called the revolt "the decline of Macronism." Political leaders, including Jean-Luc Mélenchon, distanced themselves from vandalism. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu acknowledged a "permanent crisis" amid inflation, while the government faces pressure from NATO spending demands and EU deficit limits ahead of presidential elections.