- Don-Alvin Adegeest
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Saturdays are synonymous with demonstrations in Paris, and the Yellow Vests
protests along the Champs Elysees have become regular occurrences over the
past four months.
But this weekend rioters took it up a notch beyond peaceful conglomerating,
vandalising luxury stores which saw over 10,000 people participate.
Luxury jeweller Bulgari saw its front windows smashed, with further
vandalism at Hugo Boss, Omega, Longchamp, Lacoste and chic eatery
Fouquet’s. Police used water cannon and tear gas to disperse the
protesters, which saw more than 120 people arrested according to the BBC.
The online protests began over fuel tax rises but have since developed into
a broader revolt against perceived elitism. France’s Interior Minister
Christophe Castaner said that more than 1,400 police officers had been
mobilised and stated e had given police an order to respond to the
“unacceptable attacks with the greatest firmness”.
Writing on Twitter, he said: “Let there be no doubt: they are looking for
violence and are there to sow chaos in Paris.”
About 80 shops on the French capital’s iconic avenue were damaged, with
several cases of arson and looting, Agence France-Presse reported, citing
Jean-Noel Reinhardt, president of the committee of the Champs Elysees.
In December Paris saw some of its most violent protests, often forcing
retailers to shut down during the key run-up Christmas trading period. LVMH
closed all its boutiques on Saturdays in the peak season, as did other
luxury retailers including Kering and leading department stores. Bruno Le
Maire, the finance minister, told the New York Times in December the riots
were a catastrophe for the French economy, costing affected retailers
between 20 and 40 percent losses in sales.
Photo credit Greg Looping / Hans Lucas / AFP
