PARIS — French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe met with political rivals Monday in a bid to ease protesters’ anger after facing widespread criticism following violent anti-government ******** that rocked Paris.
More than 130 people were ******* and 412 arrested Saturday in the French capital amid the nation’s ***** **** in a generation. ****** responded with ******** and water cannons, closing down dozens of streets and subway stations to contain the ****.
By Sunday, some of the most popular tourist streets in Paris were littered with torched cars and broken glass from looted shops and the Arc de Triomphe monument was tagged with graffiti.
French President Emmanuel Macron, just back from the Group of 20 summit in Argentina, held an ********* meeting Sunday on security and the government hasn’t ruled out the possibility of imposing a state of *********.
It was the third straight weekend of clashes in Paris led by protesters wearing distinctive yellow traffic vests. The ******** began last month with motorists upset over a fuel tax hike and have grown to encompass a range of complaints that Macron’s government doesn’t care about the problems of ordinary people. Yet other ******** in France on the same topic Saturday remained peaceful.
Philippe and Macron have been lambasted for their handling of the ******. After meeting with the prime minister, Socialist leader Olivier Faure urged Philippe to drop the tax hikes and to restore a wealth tax that was slashed by the centrist government.
“We want a change in the method. One needs to come down from Mount Olympus,” Faure said, referring to Macron’s Greek god nickname of Jupiter.
Laurent Wauquiez, head of centre-right Les Republicains party, urged Macron to hold a referendum to end the ****** but did not say what its topic should be.
“French people need to be heard again, and for that we must organize a referendum to decide these issues. Only these measures will restore calm,” Wauquiez said.
More anti-government ******** took place Monday as ambulance workers took to the streets near the National Assembly in Paris to complain about changes to working conditions. Protesters set tires on **** and blocked traffic. One activist held up a sign reading “The State ****** me” and others chanted “Macron resign!”
The yellow vest movement is bringing together people from across the political spectrum complaining about France’s economic inequalities and waning spending power.
Since the movement kicked off on Nov. 17, three people have been ****** and hundreds ******* in clashes or accidents stemming from the ********. Over the past three weeks, protesters have been setting up road blockades across the country and their movement has garnered wide public support.
Philippe will try to defuse tensions this week before more possible ******** this weekend, speaking with yellow vest representatives on Tuesday. Members of the National Assembly will also hold talks on France’s social ****** later this week.