Yellow vests gathered in Paris for the fifth Saturday since the waves of protests erupted, calling for Macron’s resignation and defying the government’s continued calls for the demonstrations to stop.
Rabat – Dismissing the government’s request to suspend protests following Tuesday’s Strasbourg shooting, the yellow vest protesters have yet again rallied in Paris and other cities.
Today marks the fifth Saturday since the start of the demonstrations in mid-November.
French authorities report that, so far, nearly 3,000 protesters have gathered at the Champs-Elysees in Paris and other areas in the city. Police are stopping and interrogating dozens of protesters.
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About 69,000 are currently on duty across France to prevent more violence from erupting as in the previous weeks. As of Friday, December 14, seven people have died in the yellow vest protests.
Last Saturday, police used tear gas for the first time to disperse protesters.
In the wake of the terrorist attack on Strasbourg’s Christmas market, which killed three and injured many, French ministers called on the protesters to halt the protests.
The French minister of justice, Nicole Belloubet, told French media that the yellow vest protests should come to a stop.
“There has been a dramatic event in Strasbourg and the president has responded,” she stated, referring to Macron’s promise to raise the country’s minimum wage and cut taxes, effective in January 2019.
During his speech on December 10, Macron promised violent protesters would “face justice.”
The yellow vests, however, were not impressed by Macron’s speech and promised in turn to continue their demonstrations.
While anger at the president’s perceived pro-rich policies sparked the yellow vest demonstrations, protesters are now increasingly calling for Macron to step down as president.
