Several hundred anti-Macron Yellow Vest protesters returned to Paris and other French cities Saturday to continue their now two-month-long demonstration against the French government.
Launched in November over French President Macron’s attempt to pursue green policies by making car ownership unaffordable through punitive fuel taxes, the Yellow Vest movement has since transformed into a broader protest group that pulls in activists from across the political spectrum.
Macron’s back on the offensive https://t.co/9B811MhZBA
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) January 1, 2019
One of the key demands now being pushed by protesters after Macron bowed to pressure in December and gave in on the green taxes is the introduction of so-called Citizen Initiative Referendums, or ‘RIC’.
Under the plans called for by the marchers, any petition in France that gained 700,000 signatures would be legally required to be put to a binding national referendum, with politicians forced to honour the results. The votes could be used to create or change laws, amend the constitution, and even fire the President.
New polling this week revealed the French public overwhelmingly support the idea, which if implemented would have the impact of dramatically reducing the power of politicians and handing it to the people. Some 80 per cent of French are thought to support of the initiative, while 47 per cent believed the Macron government was going to ignore the public.
Protests took place outside French Mainstream Media Headquarters https://t.co/Ymiag7YBfA
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) December 29, 2018
Now in its eighth week, Saturday’s march saw fewer marchers than the tens of thousands seen nationwide in November, but also less of the violence that has marred some marches. Some political observers including populist leader Marion Marechal have suggested the violence was visited upon the marches by hard-left agent provocateurs using the grassroots movement as a pretext for violence.
Ahead of the protest on Friday, government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux criticised the movement, saying those taking to the streets are “agitators who want insurrection and, basically, to overthrow the government.”
Anger among the protesters intensified this week after prominent Yellow Vest organiser Eric Drouet was arrested by police who said he’d organised an illegal demonstration. So far 216 Yellow Vest activists are in jail either sentenced or awaiting trial, and over 4,5000 were arrested in relation to the protests in 2018.
Yellow vest protestors walk in front of Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris on January 5, 2019, during a rally by yellow vest “Gilets Jaunes” anti-government protestors. – Over the past six weeks, “yellow vest” demonstrators — so-called after the high-visibility jackets they wear — have repeatedly clashed with police in Paris and other big cities, plunging Macron’s presidency into crisis. The “yellow vest” movement began in rural France over fuel taxes and quickly ballooned into a wider revolt against the 41-year-old president’s pro-business policies and perceived arrogance by low-paid workers and pensioners. (Photo by ERIC FEFERBERG / AFP)
“Yellow Vest” (Gilets jaunes) anti-government protester gather material as they construct a barricade during a rally in Nantes on January 5, 2019, part of a nationwide day of demonstrations. – France’s “yellow vest” protestors were back on the streets as a government spokesman denounced those still protesting as hard-liners who wanted only to bring down the government. Several hundred protestors gathered on the Champs Elysees in central Paris, where around 15 police wagons were also deployed, an AFP journalist said. Marches were underway in several other cities across France. (Photo by LOIC VENANCE / AFP)
Anti-government yellow vest protestors demonstrate in Paris on January 5, 2019. – Over the past six weeks, “yellow vest” demonstrators — so-called after the high-visibility jackets they wear — have repeatedly clashed with police in Paris and other big cities, plunging Macron’s presidency into crisis. The “yellow vest” movement began in rural France over fuel taxes and quickly ballooned into a wider revolt against the 41-year-old president’s pro-business policies and perceived arrogance by low-paid workers and pensioners. (Photo by Eric FEFERBERG / AFP)
Yellow vest protestors walk in front of Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris on January 5, 2019, during a rally by yellow vest “Gilets Jaunes” anti-government protestors. – Over the past six weeks, “yellow vest” demonstrators — so-called after the high-visibility jackets they wear — have repeatedly clashed with police in Paris and other big cities, plunging Macron’s presidency into crisis. The “yellow vest” movement began in rural France over fuel taxes and quickly ballooned into a wider revolt against the 41-year-old president’s pro-business policies and perceived arrogance by low-paid workers and pensioners. (Photo by ERIC FEFERBERG / AFP)
A “Yellow Vest” (Gilets jaunes) anti-government protester kicks a teargas shell during a rally in Nantes on January 5, 2019, during a nationwide day of demonstrations. – France’s “yellow vest” protestors were back on the streets as a government spokesman denounced those still protesting as hard-liners who wanted only to bring down the government. Several hundred protestors gathered on the Champs Elysees in central Paris, where around 15 police wagons were also deployed, an AFP journalist said. Marches were underway in several other cities across France. (Photo by LOIC VENANCE / AFP)
“Yellow Vest” (Gilets jaunes) anti-government protesterswalk with burning material on a street in Rouen, north-western France on January 5, 2019, during a nationwide day of demonstrations. – France’s “yellow vest” protestors were back on the streets as a government spokesman denounced those still protesting as hard-liners who wanted only to bring down the government. Several hundred protestors gathered on the Champs Elysees in central Paris, where around 15 police wagons were also deployed, an AFP journalist said. Marches were underway in several other cities across France. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP)
“Yellow Vest” (Gilets jaunes) anti-government protesters gather near a burning ‘wheelie bin’ on a street in Rouen, north-western France on January 5, 2019, during a nationwide day of demonstrations. – France’s “yellow vest” protestors were back on the streets as a government spokesman denounced those still protesting as hard-liners who wanted only to bring down the government. Several hundred protestors gathered on the Champs Elysees in central Paris, where around 15 police wagons were also deployed, an AFP journalist said. Marches were underway in several other cities across France. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP)
Yellow vest “Gilets Jaunes” protestors hold a French flag and a banner reading “class struggle is wearing yellow” as they staged a vigil during a rally by anti-government protestors on January 5, 2019 in front of the Law Court of Le Mans, northwestern France. – Over the past six weeks, “yellow vest” demonstrators — so-called after the high-visibility jackets they wear — have repeatedly clashed with police in Paris and other big cities, plunging Macron’s presidency into crisis. The “yellow vest” movement began in rural France over fuel taxes and quickly ballooned into a wider revolt against the 41-year-old president’s pro-business policies and perceived arrogance by low-paid workers and pensioners. (Photo by JEAN-FRANCOIS MONIER / AFP)
Yellow vest protestors gather outside the City Hall (hotel de ville) in Paris on January 5, 2019, during a rally by yellow vest “Gilets Jaunes” anti-government protestors. – Over the past six weeks, “yellow vest” demonstrators — so-called after the high-visibility jackets they wear — have repeatedly clashed with police in Paris and other big cities, plunging Macron’s presidency into crisis. The “yellow vest” movement began in rural France over fuel taxes and quickly ballooned into a wider revolt against the 41-year-old president’s pro-business policies and perceived arrogance by low-paid workers and pensioners. (Photo by ERIC FEFERBERG / AFP)
TOPSHOT – Yellow vest “Gilets Jaunes” march along Rue Quatre September in Paris on January 5, 2019, during a rally by the anti-government protestors. – France’s “yellow vest” protestors were back on the streets as a government spokesman denounced those still protesting as hard-liners who wanted only to bring down the government. Several hundred protestors gathered on the Champs Elysees in central Paris, where around 15 police wagons were also deployed, an AFP journalist said. Marches were underway in several other cities across France. (Photo by Olivier MORIN / AFP)
“Yellow Vest” (Gilets jaunes) anti-government protesters stage a rally in Rouen, north-western France on January 5, 2019, during a nationwide day of demonstrations. – France’s “yellow vest” protestors were back on the streets as a government spokesman denounced those still protesting as hard-liners who wanted only to bring down the government. Several hundred protestors gathered on the Champs Elysees in central Paris, where around 15 police wagons were also deployed, an AFP journalist said. Marches were underway in several other cities across France. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP)
A “Yellow Vest” (Gilets jaunes) anti-government protester is struck by security personnel in Rouen, north-western France on January 5, 2019, during a nationwide day of demonstrations. – France’s “yellow vest” protestors were back on the streets as a government spokesman denounced those still protesting as hard-liners who wanted only to bring down the government. Several hundred protestors gathered on the Champs Elysees in central Paris, where around 15 police wagons were also deployed, an AFP journalist said. Marches were underway in several other cities across France. (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP)
Yellow vest protestors hold hands across a street in front of a line of security personnel in Paris on January 5, 2019, during a rally by yellow vest “Gilets Jaunes” anti-government protestors. – Over the past six weeks, “yellow vest” demonstrators — so-called after the high-visibility jackets they wear — have repeatedly clashed with police in Paris and other big cities, plunging Macron’s presidency into crisis. The “yellow vest” movement began in rural France over fuel taxes and quickly ballooned into a wider revolt against the 41-year-old president’s pro-business policies and perceived arrogance by low-paid workers and pensioners. (Photo by Lucas BARIOULET / AFP)
Yellow vest “Gilets Jaunes” anti-government protestors walk during a rally in Paris on January 5, 2019. – Over the past six weeks, “yellow vest” demonstrators — so-called after the high-visibility jackets they wear — have repeatedly clashed with police in Paris and other big cities, plunging Macron’s presidency into crisis. The “yellow vest” movement began in rural France over fuel taxes and quickly ballooned into a wider revolt against the 41-year-old president’s pro-business policies and perceived arrogance by low-paid workers and pensioners. (Photo by Lucas BARIOULET / AFP)
Yellow vest “Gilets Jaunes” anti-government protestors walk behind a banner during a rally in Paris on January 5, 2019. – Over the past six weeks, “yellow vest” demonstrators — so-called after the high-visibility jackets they wear — have repeatedly clashed with police in Paris and other big cities, plunging Macron’s presidency into crisis. The “yellow vest” movement began in rural France over fuel taxes and quickly ballooned into a wider revolt against the 41-year-old president’s pro-business policies and perceived arrogance by low-paid workers and pensioners. (Photo by Lucas BARIOULET / AFP)
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