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French government warns of weekend of gilets jaunes violence Gilets jaunes protests: stay shut, police tell shopkeepers on Champs-Élysées
(35 minutes later)
French authorities have warned of another wave of “great violence” and rioting from gilets jaunes protesters this weekend, with 65,000 security personnel to be deployed across the country on Saturday. Police in Paris have urged shopkeepers on the Champs-Élysées to stay shut on Saturday, as authorities prepare to deploy 65,000 security personnel across the country to quell another round of anticipated gilets jaunes protests.
As senior ministers sought to defuse public anger with conciliatory language on taxes, an official in the office of President Emmanuel Macron said intelligence suggested that some protesters would come to the capital this Saturday “to vandalise and to kill” and the prime minister, Édouard Philippe, said thousands of security personnel would be deployed across the country to keep the peace. As senior ministers sought to defuse public anger with conciliatory language on taxes, an official in the office of President Emmanuel Macron risked provoking more anger by saying that intelligence suggested that some protesters would come to the capital “to vandalise and to kill”.
Despite capitulating this week over the plans for higher fuel taxes that inspired the nationwide revolt, Macron has struggled to quell the anger that led to the worst street unrest in central Paris since 1968. Despite capitulating this week over the plans for higher fuel taxes that inspired the nationwide revolt, Macron has struggled to quell the anger that led last weekend to the worst street unrest in central Paris since 1968.
Rioters torched cars, vandalised cafes, looted shops and sprayed anti-Macron graffiti across some of Paris’s most affluent districts, even defacing the Arc de Triomphe. Scores of people were hurt and hundreds arrested in battles with police.Rioters torched cars, vandalised cafes, looted shops and sprayed anti-Macron graffiti across some of Paris’s most affluent districts, even defacing the Arc de Triomphe. Scores of people were hurt and hundreds arrested in battles with police.
Macron’s politics look to Blair and Clinton. The backlash was inevitable | Larry ElliottMacron’s politics look to Blair and Clinton. The backlash was inevitable | Larry Elliott
In a bid to end the three-week crisis, Philippe told parliament late on Wednesday that he was scrapping the fuel-tax increases planned for 2019, having announced a six-month suspension the day before. In a bid to end the three-week crisis, Prime Minister Édouard Philippe told parliament late on Wednesday that he was scrapping the fuel-tax increases planned for 2019, having announced a six-month suspension the day before.
The finance minister, Bruno Le Maire, told a conference he was prepared to bring forward tax-cutting plans and that he wanted workers’ bonuses to be tax-free.The finance minister, Bruno Le Maire, told a conference he was prepared to bring forward tax-cutting plans and that he wanted workers’ bonuses to be tax-free.
But he added: “In this case, it must go hand-in-hand with a decrease in spending.”But he added: “In this case, it must go hand-in-hand with a decrease in spending.”
He also said France would impose a tax on big internet firms in 2019 if there was no consensus on a EU-wide levy, seeking to appeal to anti-business sentiment among the protesters.He also said France would impose a tax on big internet firms in 2019 if there was no consensus on a EU-wide levy, seeking to appeal to anti-business sentiment among the protesters.
The threat of more violence poses a security nightmare for the authorities, who make a distinction between the peaceful gilets jaunes (“yellow vest”) protesters and violent groups, anarchists and looters from the deprived suburbs who they say have infiltrated the movement.The threat of more violence poses a security nightmare for the authorities, who make a distinction between the peaceful gilets jaunes (“yellow vest”) protesters and violent groups, anarchists and looters from the deprived suburbs who they say have infiltrated the movement.
On Facebook groups and across social media, the gilets jaunes are calling for an “act 4”, a reference to what would be a fourth weekend of disorder.On Facebook groups and across social media, the gilets jaunes are calling for an “act 4”, a reference to what would be a fourth weekend of disorder.
“France is fed up!! We will be there in bigger numbers, stronger, standing up for French people. Meet in Paris on Dec 8,” said one group’s banner.“France is fed up!! We will be there in bigger numbers, stronger, standing up for French people. Meet in Paris on Dec 8,” said one group’s banner.
The education minister, Jean-Michel Blanquer, urged people to stay at home this weekend. Security sources said the government was considering using troops currently deployed on anti-terrorism patrols to protect public buildings.The education minister, Jean-Michel Blanquer, urged people to stay at home this weekend. Security sources said the government was considering using troops currently deployed on anti-terrorism patrols to protect public buildings.
Several top-league soccer matches on Saturday have been cancelled and the Louvre museum said it and others were awaiting word from Paris officials on whether to close their doors. Several top-league football matches on Saturday have been cancelled and the Louvre museum said it and others were awaiting word from Paris officials on whether to close their doors.
The protests, named after the fluorescent jackets French motorists are required to keep in their cars, erupted in November over the squeeze on household budgets caused by fuel taxes. Demonstrations swiftly grew into a broad, sometimes violent, rebellion against Macron.The protests, named after the fluorescent jackets French motorists are required to keep in their cars, erupted in November over the squeeze on household budgets caused by fuel taxes. Demonstrations swiftly grew into a broad, sometimes violent, rebellion against Macron.
The protesters have no formal leader and their demands are diverse. They include lower taxes, higher salaries and Macron’s resignation. Who are the gilets jaunes and what do they want?
The protesters have no formal leader and their demands are diverse. They include changes to a tax system perceived as unfair and unjust, higher salaries and Macron’s resignation.
France’s hard-left CGT trade union on Thursday called on its energy industry workers to walk out for 48 hours from 13 December, saying it wanted to join forces with the gilets jaunes.France’s hard-left CGT trade union on Thursday called on its energy industry workers to walk out for 48 hours from 13 December, saying it wanted to join forces with the gilets jaunes.
The fuel tax volte-face was the first major U-turn of Macron’s 18-month presidency.The fuel tax volte-face was the first major U-turn of Macron’s 18-month presidency.
The unrest has exposed deep-seated resentment among non-city dwellers with a perception that Macron is out of touch with the middle class and blue-collar labourers. They see the 40-year-old former investment banker as closer to big business. The unrest has exposed deep-seated resentment among non-city dwellers with a perception that Macron is out of touch with the middle and working classes. They see the 40-year-old former investment banker as closer to big business and the rich.
Trouble is also brewing elsewhere for Macron. Teenage students blocked access to more than 200 high schools across the country on Thursday, burning garbage bins and setting a car alight in the western city of Nantes.Trouble is also brewing elsewhere for Macron. Teenage students blocked access to more than 200 high schools across the country on Thursday, burning garbage bins and setting a car alight in the western city of Nantes.
Farmers, who have long complained that retailers are squeezing their margins and are furious over a delay to the planned rise in minimum food prices, and truckers are threatening to strike from Sunday.Farmers, who have long complained that retailers are squeezing their margins and are furious over a delay to the planned rise in minimum food prices, and truckers are threatening to strike from Sunday.
Le Maire said France was no longer spared from the wave of populism that had swept across Europe. “It’s only that in France, it’s not manifesting itself at the ballot box, but in the streets.”Le Maire said France was no longer spared from the wave of populism that had swept across Europe. “It’s only that in France, it’s not manifesting itself at the ballot box, but in the streets.”
FranceFrance
EuropeEurope
Emmanuel MacronEmmanuel Macron
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