Yellow Vest Protests in France
Nearly 500 people were arrested in Paris ahead of planned Yellow Vest protests which started in mid-November, forcing the government to scrap plans to raise fuel prices, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said on Saturday.
Protesters wearing bright yellow vests -- dubbed the Yellow Vests -- are gathering along the famous Champs-Elysees, where stores, restaurants, and banks were shut down as a precaution against possible violence.
Security measures have been tightened in Paris ahead of the demonstrations. Dozens of armored vehicles and 89,000 troops -- including 8,000 in Paris -- will be on duty.
France is seeking a way out of the Yellow Vests movement which started in mid-November forcing the government to scrap plans to raise fuel prices.The week-long protests which saw incidents of plunder and arson have plummeted approval ratings of President Emmanuel Macron.A poll by French firm Elabe shows that 78 percent citizens think Macron's measures on the issue were unsatisfactory.Another survey showed that during the protests only 18 percent of French citizens were supporting Macron, compared to 21 percent the previous month.French government defends heavy-handed police tactics against studentsThierry Paul Valette, Paris coordinator of the Yellow Vests, told Anadolu Agency on Friday that the suspension of fuel tax increases for 2019 does not meet all of their demands.Among them were a raise in minimum wage, reduction in retirement age, and an overhaul of the tax system.The protests also pointed to a wider problem within the French government.Prime Minister Edouard Philippe on midday of Thursday announced in the Senate that France may cancel the proposed tax raises for 2019. By the evening, Macron announced the tax raise had been canceled -- signalling to a communication gap between the two leaders."Yellow Vests: Macron-Philippe tandem in crisis," Europe 1 radio said in its headlines.France braces for trouble, Macron to address 'yellow vest' angerProtests have been planned across France this weekend.Early Saturday, the Yellow Vests will gather at famous Champs-Elysees Avenue. A group of protesters will meet at Place de la Bastille, a famous Parisian square.Some 89,000 troops will be on duty, including 8,000 in Paris.French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner has requested Yellow Vests not to hold fresh protests. But Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo is backing Saturday's protests.A syndicate of police, Vigi, will go on an indefinite strike to support the Yellow Vests, the union said on Twitter on Thursday.The demonstrators, who generally live in rural areas due to high rents in the cities, have to commute long distances to come to work in the cities.At least three people have died during the riots while 1,043 others have been injured, including 222 members of the security forces. As many as 1,424 people have been arrested.Fuel prices in France have risen more than 20 percent this year.France braces for more violence over high living costs
France seeks way out of Yellow Vests protests
France's government on Friday defended the tactics of riot police who forced several dozen detained high-school students to kneel in rows with their hands held behind their heads or in handcuffs after violent protests west of Paris.Students this week have been blocking access to scores of high schools across France in protest at President Emmanuel Macron's education reforms, just as the 40-year-old leader grapples with sometimes-violent demonstrations over living costs.Videos and photos of the students from two high schools in Val Fourre, a deprived neighbourhood outside Mantes-La-Jolie, 60 kilometres west of Paris, went viral on social media late on Thursday, prompting public outrage.Trade war to weigh on global growth in coming months: French FinMin"Over the past few days, the students have been joined by about 100 hooded youths armed with clubs and incendiary devices and determined to pick a fight with police," Interior Minister Christophe Castaner told a news conference.Castaner said roadblocks had been set alight, projectiles hurled at motorists and houses robbed in the area around the two schools."It is in this context that the security forces stepped in," the minister added.No students were injured while detained in the Val Fourre incident, French media reported.But some social media users said the scene, with some of the teenagers lined up facing a wall, resembled a mock mass-execution."Can anyone tell me if they've witnessed such a thing in the last 50 years," one Twitter user said.France braces for trouble, Macron to address 'yellow vest' angerAnother tweet read: "These images of teenagers on their knees at the feet of CRS (riot police) are unworthy of a democracy. The government needs to take charge and re-establish chains of command."Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer described the images as "shocking" but said the violence convulsing France in recent weeks justified the heavy-handed policing.France is hunkering down for another wave of potentially violent protests on Saturday as Macron struggles to quell public anger at the cost of living. Senior allies said he would address the nation early next week.
French government defends heavy-handed police tactics against students
Some museums are also closed on Saturday. The Eiffel Tower announced on Twitter that it will be closed Saturday due to the protests, and offered refunds.
Thousands of yellow vest protesters have been gathering in major French cities including Paris since Nov. 17 to protest President Emmanuel Macron's controversial fuel tax hikes and the deteriorating economic situation.
Protestors wearing 'yellow vests' (gilets jaunes) walk on the Champs Elysees avenue in Paris on December 08, 2018 during a protest against rising costs of living they blame on high taxes.At least 317 people were arrested in Paris ahead of planned Yellow Vest protests which started in mid-November forcing the government to scrap plans to raise fuel prices, local media reported on Saturday.
'Yellow Vests' protests in Paris
The demonstrators, who generally live in rural areas due to high rents in the cities, have called on Macron to cut fuel taxes and ease their economic difficulties.
At least three people have died during the riots while over 1,000 others have been injured, including 222 members of the security forces. Over 1,400 people have been arrested.
According to a recent survey, 84 percent of the French people -- mostly from the middle-income group -- support the protests.
Fuel prices in France have risen more than 20 percent this year.
Protesters wearing bright yellow vests --dubbed the Yellow Vests-- are gathering at the famous Champs-Elysees avenue where stores, restaurants and banks were shut down as precaution against possible violence. Security measures have been tightened in Paris ahead of the demonstrations. Dozens of armored vehicles and 89,000 troops --including 8,000 in Paris-- will be on duty.'Yellow Vest' protests continue to dominate Paris
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France hunkered down for another wave of potentially violent protests on Saturday as under-fire President Emmanuel Macron planned to address the nation next week over public anger at the cost of living, senior allies said.Much of Paris will be in lockdown and tens of thousands of police deployed across the nation to contain what protesters are billing as 'Act IV' to the 'yellow vest' rebellion that has seen the worst unrest in the capital since 1968 student riots.Navigating his biggest crisis since being elected, Macron has left it largely to his prime minister, Edouard Philippe, to deal in public with the turmoil and offer concessions.But the 40-year-old is under mounting pressure to speak more fully as his administration tries to regain the initiative following three weeks of unrest in the G7 nation.France braces for more violence over high living costs"The President will speak early next week. I think this is what the French people want, they want answers," Transport Minister Elisabeth Borne told Sud Radio on Friday."The President will send a message to the French that he is listening to their anger (...) and that new answers have obviously to be found."Protesters want Macron to go further on easing the budgets of hard-pressed households: an increase to the minimum wage is one demand. But the president, mindful of the country's deficit and not wanting to flout EU rules, will have little wriggle room for more concessions.Scrapping next year's hikes to fuel taxes, the first major U-turn of his presidency, has already cost the Treasury 4 billion euros ($4.5 billion).Macron administration warns of 'great violence' in Paris from hard core 'yellow vests'"SMASHING THINGS UP"The Eiffel Tower, opera house, and Louvre are among dozens of museums and tourist sites that will close on Saturday.Authorities have also ordered shut scores of luxury boutiques, restaurants and private businesses on the Champs Elysees avenue and around the presidential palace.The trouble is jeopardising a timid economic recovery in France. Small retailers saw revenue fall 20-40 percent last Saturday, and hotel reservations are down 15-25 percent.Patrick Delmas, 49, will be closing his bar "Le Monte Carlo" next to the Champs Elysees on Saturday, blaming hoodlums from anarchist and anti-capitalist groups, as well as the yellow vest movement's violent fringe.France cancels fuel tax hikes amid protests"We have lost 60 percent of business over the last 15 days," he said. "The problem is all those people who arrive with the sole intention of smashing things up."The protests, named after the high visibility vests French motorists carry in their cars, erupted in November due to the impact on family budgets of already raised fuel taxes.Reminiscent of Spain's anti-austerity "Indignados" movement in 2011, the French protests swiftly grew into a broad rebellion against the government, but without formal leaders.Their diverse demands include lower taxes, higher salaries, cheaper energy, better retirement provisions and even Macron's resignation.France could change position on wealth tax, Macron ally suggestsMacron's government has this week offered a rush of sweeteners to soothe public anger, beginning with Philippe's climb-down on fuel taxes. Yet all signs are that the government has failed to quell the revolt.Some 89,000 policemen will be on duty to stop a repeat of last Saturday's mayhem. About 8,000 of them are to be deployed in Paris where rioters last weekend torched cars, looted shops and defaced the Arc de Triomphe with anti-Macron graffiti.Another weekend of violence may raise doubts over the durability of Macron's prime minister, though aides to Macron and Philippe say there is no discord between them.
France braces for trouble, Macron to address 'yellow vest' anger
At least 89,000 police officers will be deployed across France amid fears of violence during anti-government protests this weekend.Some 8,000 police officers will be on duty in Paris and armored vehicles will also be deployed, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe told French television station TF1 Thursday."We face people who do not come to protest but to destroy," he said.Shops and restaurants on Paris's Champs-Elysees and some museums will also be closed.The Eiffel Tower’s management announced on its Twitter account that it will remain closed to the public Saturday due to demonstrations and visitors will be automatically refunded.Thousands of "yellow vest" protesters have been gathering in major French cities including Paris since Nov. 17 to protest President Emmanuel Macron's controversial fuel tax hikes and the deteriorating economic situation in France.The demonstrators, who generally live in rural areas due to high rents in the cities, called on Macron to cut fuel taxes and make economic arrangements to ease their lives.Galeri: French police clash with protesters in ParisPhilippe announced Tuesday that France would delay fuel tax increases for six months and the suspension would also apply to increases in gas and electricity prices. The government abandoned the fuel tax hikes the following day.“The government is ready for dialogue and is showing it because this tax increase has been dropped from the 2019 budget bill,” Philippe said in a speech at the National Assembly, or lower house of parliament.At least three people have died during the riots while 1,043 others have been injured, including 222 members of the security forces. As many as 1,424 people have been arrested.According to a recent survey, 84 percent of the French people -- mostly from the middle-income group -- support the protests.Fuel prices in France have risen more than 20 percent this year.
France braces for more violence over high living costs