President Emmanuel Macron on Friday asked his government to draw lessons from recent riots sparked by the shooting of a teenager, by the police or risk deep divisions in France.

Speaking at a cabinet meeting, Macron said the riots had highlighted risk of fragmentation, and deep division, of the nation. He said here was a "need for authority and respect", Macron told the ministers.

"We must draw the lessons from what happened, and provide sound answers," he said.

This task would "shape" the government's work after the summer break, said Macron.

Macron also told the cabinet meeting that France needed to bring its finances back on a solid footing after spending to bolster the economy during the Covid pandemic and energy subsidies for households.

"After the summer, we will have to prepare the country, in a way, for a demanding framework and order in terms of public finances," Macron said.

This, he said, would put France in a position to start repaying debt, cut taxes further and allow "a reasonable management of our deficits".