France’s yellow vests seek show of strength for anniversary

Agence France-Presse

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France’s yellow vests seek show of strength for anniversary

AFP

'We're here even if Macron doesn't like it,' the protesters chant as they arrived in Paris

PARIS, France – French “yellow vest” protesters began a series of nationwide demonstrations on Saturday, November 16, in a bid to show the government they can still muster support on the first anniversary of their movement.

Numbers attending the protests and levels of violence have sharply diminished in recent months from the height of the movement, which began on November 17 last year with a giant Paris protest that drew almost 300,000 people.

But the yellow vests want the actions on Saturday – their traditional day for protests – and also Sunday, November 17, – the anniversary day – to show President Emmanuel Macron they remain a force to be reckoned with.

“We’re here even if Macron doesn’t like it” demonstrators chanted as they arrived on the outskirts of Paris Saturday, with others singing “Happy Birthday”.

Paris police reported 24 arrests by 10.50 AM (0950 GMT) after incidents involving police using teargas and demonstrators setting fires.

Several metro stations were closed in the capital and police were deployed in numbers, especially along the Champs-Elysees, which was again closed off to demonstrators following the ransacking of shops that followed a protest last March.

Police were also stationed near government ministries.

Around 200 demonstrations are planned, with authorities expecting several thousand to rally in the capital.

This estimate includes a few hundred radical protesters from the ultra-left and far-right, often behind the worst scenes of mayhem.

France has a long tradition of violent protest, but the ferocity of last winter’s demonstrations and allegations of police brutality shocked the country.

Officials said the magnitude of the weekend protests is far from certain but deputy interior minister Laurent Nunez noted a “more pronounced interest” than in previous weeks, and police would plan their deployment accordingly.

“There will be a significant infiltration but not on the scale we saw in December and January at a national level,” said a French security source, asking not to be identified by name. (READ: Where will France’s ‘yellow vest’ protests lead?)

“We are expecting a difficult Saturday,” said the source, noting that protesters “mobilize at the last minute in a bid to take us by surprise”.

‘Still in the street’

A poll by the Elabe institute published Wednesday said 55% of French people support or have sympathy for the yellow vests, although 63 percent said they do not want the protests to begin in earnest again.

The most prominent figures in the movement, which has explicitly shunned any formal leadership structure, acknowledge the declining numbers but say the authorities’ response has not been sufficient.

“We shouldn’t still need be on the street one year on,” said Priscillia Ludosky, an entrepreneur whose online petition against high fuel prices helped kick off the movement.

“It’s unfortunate there has been no political response, but also to see that we are slightly lacking energy in terms of infiltration,” she told the Regards news site.

The yellow vests – named for the glow-in-the-dark waistcoats all French drivers must carry in their cars – posed the biggest challenge to Macron since he swept to power in 2017 on the back of promises of sweeping change.

They accused Macron of being deaf to the troubles of ordinary French people as he embarked on a major program aimed at modernizing the country.

‘Cry of suffering’

Initially taken aback by the size and intensity of the movement, Macron offered billions of euros in state aid and tax breaks – and scrapped a planned fuel tax hike – while embarking on a “Great National Debate” at town halls nationwide.

He has also tried to soften his sometimes abrasive style. Just weeks before the protests erupted, Macron told a 25-year-old man looking for a job in Paris that “if I crossed the street I’d find you one”.

“The yellow vests opened our eyes to the reality for millions of people,” Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire said on Friday, November 15, adding that the government wanted to respond to this “cry of suffering”.

Apart from Paris, rallies are expected in cities including Bordeaux, Lille and Toulouse, which have often attracted thousands of people.

The next major street challenge to Macron, however, may not come from the weekend’s protests but a strike called by unions on December 5 to rally against his planned pension reforms– Rappler.com

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