Macron addresses French nation tomorrow amidst protests
News & Trends •
former investment banker macron was elected on a pledge to put more money in workers pockets. but the effects of his pro-business reforms on unemployment and purchasing power have been limited so far1 french president emmanuel macron is to address his nation on tuesday following persistent and sometimes violent protests over fuel taxes that are morphing into a movement against his business- and environment-friendly policies1 the government blamed much of the violence on a small minority of ultra-right activists who shadowed the 8000 demonstrators who were wearing the yellow high-visibility vests that symbolise their week-long protests1 bruno le maire the economy minister acknowledged sunday that the current crisis goes far beyond just a question of fuel adding that it was important that work be better paid to improve living standards1 it is time to listen to the french he said on bfm television suggesting that macron would call for grassroot debates throughout the country on government policies1 the presidential palace said macron would make a speech on tuesday on ecological transition and was expected to address the protests1 opposition leaders have been quick to note that the protests mostly organised by grassroot protesters coordinating by way of social media rather than by traditional political parties or trade unions have won wide popular support1 when a movement has the backing of three quarters of french people you give them an answer you dont just dismiss them as a gang of thugs olivier faure the opposition socialist party leader told le parisien newspaper1 guillaume peltier a leader of conservative the republicans party told the daily it was all too easy to stigmatise the yellow vests and equate their movement with that of a few unacceptable acts1 far-right leader marine le pen voiced her full support for the protesters telling the lci channel the unrest revealed grievances held by the immense majority of the french who were being ignored by a miniscule cast working only for itself1 paris saw clashes between police and demonstrators saturday on the champs-elysees where barricades were set on fire luxury shop windows smashed and traffic lights uprooted. some 30 people were injured and 101 arrested police said1 he has seen his popularity slide to just 25 percent according to one poll a week ago and the protests reflect broader frustration with a leader critics label as aloof and a president of the rich1 us president donald trump whose initial friendly ties with macron have chilled under the french leaders criticisms sought to place the french protests in his frequent grumbling over us-eu trade relations and nato spending1 the large and violent french protests dont take into account how badly the united states has been treated on trade by the european union or on fair and reasonable payments for our great military protection trump said on twitter. both of these topics must be remedied soon1 macron himself had taken to twitter on saturday to condemn the violence and cry shame on those who assaulted or intimidated policemen journalists and other citizens1 several media workers based in frances southwestern city of toulouse said sunday they would boycott the yellow vests movement after five journalists were threatened or beaten by scores of demonstrators while covering protests in their region1 faced with the public anger many politicians suggested macron often perceived as aloof or arrogant might use his speech to announce measures softening the impact of rising petrol and diesel taxes and restore dialogue with trade unions1 when you act like louis xiv you can expect revolts the french back the yellow vests because macron promised them a new world and they see that his policies arent delivering bruno retailleau who heads the republican opposition in the senate1 the french see environmental matters as an alibi for fiscal belt-tightening he told le journal du dimanche newspaper1 the yellow vests come overwhelmingly from non-urban areas of france. they feel overlooked and penalised by policies they see as being pushed through by elitist politicians in paris1 many of the often low-income yellow vest protesters are particularly incensed at macrons decision to hike anti-pollution taxes on diesel while scrapping a wealth tax on the rich1