Macron chose to defend the police’s actions during Saturday’s protests across France, where tear gas, water cannons and stun grenades were used against demonstrators and rioters.
He again stressed that those guilty of crimes should be prosecuted and punished.
He said police had acted professionally during the protests, despite allegations of excessive force.
Police interventions
But Macron also expressed some understanding of the criticism of police interventions. He said full transparency in the actions of the French police was necessary and that the police must learn from any mistakes.
"I have asked [those responsible] to provide information so that this does not happen again," Macron said.
Nearly 2,400 people were arrested during the protests. Around 1,000 police officers were injured, the French news agency AFP reported on Sunday evening.
Understands criticism
Macron stood in his office in front of gold ornaments and elaborate decorations as he delivered a seven-minute televised speech, written and delivered after one of the most violent weekends of protests in France in a long time.
The presidential symbols behind him stood in stark contrast to the anger over the increasingly deteriorating living conditions experienced by many French people - and which led at least half a million people to demonstrate peacefully this weekend.
"We want to act," Macron said in response to the criticism. He focused in particular on the anger over the French school system and said he understood the criticism.
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