Macron to meet business, union leaders after violent protests

French President Emmanuel Macron was to meet with trade and business leaders as well as local representatives early Monday, local media reported, after violent anti-fuel protests took place across France for the fourth week running.

Several cabinet ministers will also take part in the meeting aimed at trying to defuse the so-called Yellow Vest protests, which continued on Saturday despite Macron's decision last week to cancel planned fuel tax hikes, according to news agency AFP.

Macron was also expected to give a televised address to the nation on Monday evening.

A total of 136,000 people took part in the Yellow Vest demonstrations across France on Saturday, with more than 1,700 were arrested.

In Paris, rioters set fire to cars and erected barricades, while police deployed tear gas and water cannons and many shops shut and boarded up their windows to avoid being looted.

After initial anger at the fuel tax, the protesters' anger has since become focused on Macron more generally, with critics calling him out of touch with ordinary people and labelling him a "president of the rich."