Politics

Yellow Vest violence explodes in France as protesters torch cars


“Yellow vest” demonstrators clashed with riot police in the French city of Toulouse today, setting cars on fire and hurling missiles at officers.

Police fired teargas on the crowds in downtown Toulouse, as thousands marched peacefully in other French cities.

The unrest came as President Emmanuel Macron prepares a series of policy announcements aimed at calming anger as the country sees its 22nd consecutive weekend of anti-government protests.

Police in the southeastern city fired teargas after several hundred of the Toulouse demonstrators started throwing objects, burning rubbish bins and trying to enter areas where protests have been banned.

Dozens of arrests were made during the violent clashes in the southeastern French city

French riot Police arrest a ‘Gilets Jaunes’ protester during the ‘Act XXII’ demonstration

 

They had arrested 23 people by late evening after several hundred demonstrators threw objects and set fire to cars, motorbikes, a construction cabin and rubbish bins.

Altogether about 5,000 to 6,000 protesters had gathered on the Allee Jean Jaures, a wide avenue in the city centre and on nearby side streets.

Activist groups had said on social media networks that Toulouse would be the focus for the 22nd round of demonstrations, prompting city mayor Jean-Claude Moudenc to express concern ahead of Saturday’s protests.

A riot police officer faces off with a protester

 

Marches in Paris and elsewhere were largely peaceful by late afternoon, though police detained 27 in the French capital.

Minor clashes broke out near the port in Marseille.

The interior minister estimated a total of 31,000 protesters demonstrated across France, 7,000 more than on the previous Saturday, but fewer than the several hundred thousand who took to the street during the first weeks of demonstrations.

The protests continue to put pressure on Macron.

The demonstrations, now in their 22nd week, were organised to focus on Toulouse on Saturday

 

He has vowed to announce a series of measures aimed at easing discontent in the country.

The protests, named after the high-visibility safety jackets worn by demonstrators, began in November to oppose fuel tax increases and the introduction of other measures worth more than 10 billion euros (£8.7 billion) to boost the purchasing power of lower-income voters.

However, the movement quickly morphed into a broader backlash against Macron’s government, despite a swift reversal of the tax hikes and other hurried measures worth more than 10 billion euros to boost purchasing power for lower-income voters.

Yellow Vest protesters hurled missiles and set cars ablaze

 

In response to rioting that made parts of Paris resemble war zones in December, Macron launched a two-month “grand debat”, a sweeping consultation that included a series of town hall meetings across the country.

Macron is due to introduce specific measures early next week.

Outlining the findings of the debate initiative, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said this week that it had highlighted demands including quicker tax cuts, action to address climate change and closer ties between Paris and the provinces.

The anti-government clashes have been focused on anger over issues like rising fuel taxes

 

Yet given the array of sometimes contradictory yellow vest demands the government is unlikely to please all those who demonstrated on Saturday.

Some are already preparing a 23rd round of protests next Saturday.

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