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Gilets jaunes protesters turn out in Paris for fifth weekend Gilets jaunes protesters turn out in Paris for fifth weekend
(35 minutes later)
Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of French cities in the fifth weekend of nationwide demonstrations against Emmanuel Macron’s government, despite calls to hold off after a gun attack in Strasbourg earlier this week.Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of French cities in the fifth weekend of nationwide demonstrations against Emmanuel Macron’s government, despite calls to hold off after a gun attack in Strasbourg earlier this week.
In Paris, police were out in force to contain possible outbursts of violence. But several major stores, such as the Galeries Lafayette, were open to Christmas shoppers. Police were out in force in Paris to contain possible outbreaks of violence, but several major stores, including Galeries Lafayette, were open to Christmas shoppers.
Numbers of protesters were down compared to Saturday last week, a police source said.
If you want to understand the gilets jaunes, get out of Paris | Nora BensaâdouneIf you want to understand the gilets jaunes, get out of Paris | Nora Bensaâdoune
Teargas was fired at small groups of protesters in brief clashes with riot police near the Champs-Élysées. .Teargas was fired at small groups of protesters in brief clashes with riot police near the Champs Élysées, but a police source said there were fewer protesters than last Saturday.
Close by, a handful of topless activists from the feminist protest group Femen faced security forces a few meters away from the Élysée Palace, the president’s residence. A handful of topless activists from the feminist protest group Femen faced security forces a few meters away from the Élysée Palace, the president’s residence.
The gilet jaunes (yellow vests) movement started in mid-November with protests at junctions and roundabouts against fuel tax increases, but quickly became a wider mobilisation against Macron’s economic policies. The gilet jaunes or yellow vests movement started in mid-November with protests at junctions and roundabouts against fuel tax increases, but quickly became a wider mobilisation against the French president’s economic policies.
Successive weekends of protests in Paris have led to vandalism and violent clashes with security forces.Successive weekends of protests in Paris have led to vandalism and violent clashes with security forces.
The gilets jaunes have cowed Macron. But for them, that’s just the start | John Lichfield Loic Bollay, 44, marching on the Champs Élysées, said the protests were more subdued than in previous weeks but that the movement would go on until the demonstrators’ grievances were addressed.
Loic Bollay, 44, marching on the Champs-Élysées in a yellow vest, said the protests were more subdued than in previous weeks but the movement would go on until the demonstrators’ grievances were addressed.
“Since the Strasbourg attack, it is calmer, but I think next Saturday and the following Saturdays ... it will come back.”“Since the Strasbourg attack, it is calmer, but I think next Saturday and the following Saturdays ... it will come back.”
The interior minister said around 69,000 police were active on Saturday with a reinforced presence in the cities of Toulouse, Bordeaux and Saint-Étienne. The gilets jaunes have cowed Macron. But for them, that’s just the start | John Lichfield
A police source told Reuters 16,000 protesters had been counted in France, excluding Paris, by 11am GMT, compared to 22,000 at the same time on 8 December. The interior minister said around 69,000 police were active on Saturday with a reinforced presence in Toulouse, Bordeaux and Saint-Étienne.
In Paris, where groups of hundreds of protesters marched in splintered groups in several neighbourhoods, 85 had been arrested by around midday, according to a Paris police official. A police source said 16,000 protesters had been counted across the country, excluding Paris, by 1100 GMT, compared to 22,000 at the same time on 8 December.
On Friday, President Macron called for a return to calm in France after nearly a month of protests by the so-called “yellow vest” movement against his government’s policies. The demonstrations have hit growth and caused widespread disruption. In Paris, where groups of hundreds of protesters marched in splintered groups in several neighbourhoods, 85 had been arrested by around midday, according to a police official.
“France needs calm, order and a return to normal,” Macron said, after a meeting of European Union leaders in Brussels. Macron called on Friday for a return to calm in France after nearly a month of protests that have hit growth and caused widespread disruption. “France needs calm, order and a return to normal,” he said after a meeting of European Union leaders in Brussels.
In a televised address to the nation on Monday, Macron announced wage rises for the poorest workers and tax cuts for pensioners in further concessions meant to end the movement but many said they would maintain pressure. In a televised address to the nation on Monday, he announced wage rises for the poorest workers and tax cuts for pensioners in further concessions meant to end the movement, but many said they would maintain the pressure.
The government, as well as several unions and opposition politicians, called on protesters to stay off the streets on Saturday, after four people were killed in a gun attack at a Christmas market in the historic city of Strasbourg. The government and several unions and opposition politicians called on protesters to stay off the streets on Saturday, after four people were killed in a gun attack at a Christmas market in Strasbourg.
Paris police have been deployed in large numbers for the fifth consecutive weekend of demonstrations by gilets jaunes protesters, with authorities repeating calls for calm after previous rallies turned violent.
ParisParis
ProtestProtest
FranceFrance
EuropeEurope
Emmanuel MacronEmmanuel Macron
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