France has been rocked by some of its worst urban unrest in years, with hundreds of thousands of people taking to the streets in demonstrations that have frequently turned violent.

Dozens were arrested and tear gas was fired at demonstrators on Saturday as tens of thousands of people rallied across the country again on Saturday after France's main student union, UNEF, called for more action, while the Yellow Vest movement, the anti-establishment force that emerged in 2018, marched through central Paris.

After weeks of criticism for not doing enough to take the issue seriously, French President Emmanuel Macron has finally started to crackdown, pledging on Thursday to ban “illegitimate”.

Speaking after a meeting with intelligence chiefs and senior ministers, Macron said demonstrations organised by groups such as trade unions would be allowed to go ahead but could be diverted along alternative routes to protect businesses.

“Last Saturday we had political and seditious acts by ultra-left groups whose aim is…