The depth of Macron chaos - 50,000 on streets and 11 dead

Yellow Vest: Shock stats reveal depth of Macron chaos - 50,000 on streets and 11 dead

FRENCH Interior Minister Christophe Castaner on Sunday said that 11 people had lost their lives during the country’s sometimes violent yellow vest crisis, as he unveiled the grim consequences of more than six months of social unrest.

the Express,
17 March, 2017

The protest movement began more than six months ago as a peaceful backlash against rising fuel and living costs, but quickly spiralled into a sometimes violent anti-Macron rebellion.

In an interview with the conservative weekly Le Journal du Dimanche (JDD), the security chief confirmed that a total of 11 deaths had been linked to the anti-government protests, adding that most had been the result of road accidents caused by roadblocks.

Mr Castaner said that 2,500 yellow vests had been injured since the protest movement began in November last year, including 76 seriously.

Some 1,800 members of the security forces also sustained injuries, he added.  

He also said that 50,000 protests had been held since the start of the movement.

The yellow vest protests, so-called because of the fluorescent safety jackets all French drivers have to keep in their cars, began late last year over spiralling fuel and living costs.

But the movement tapped into much deeper frustrations among the struggling working class, and quickly morphed into a wider rebellion against President Emmanuel Macron’s elitist government and pro-business economic policies.

On some occasions, mostly in Paris, the weekly protests have sparked violent clashes between yellow vests and riot police, with both sides accusing the other of abuses.

There has been huge controversy over the rough tactics used by police to restore calm during the protests, namely the use of non-lethal rubber bullets and sting-ball grenades.

Yellow vests say the use of such devices has put demonstrators in unnecessary danger and caused serious injuries. Activists say that 23 protesters have lost the use of an eye, five have lost a hand and one a testicle.

The protest movement began more than six months ago as a peaceful backlash against rising fuel and living costs, but quickly spiralled into a sometimes violent anti-Macron rebellion.

In an interview with the conservative weekly Le Journal du Dimanche (JDD), the security chief confirmed that a total of 11 deaths had been linked to the anti-government protests, adding that most had been the result of road accidents caused by roadblocks.

Mr Castaner said that 2,500 yellow vests had been injured since the protest movement began in November last year, including 76 seriously.

Some 1,800 members of the security forces also sustained injuries, he added.  

He also said that 50,000 protests had been held since the start of the movement.

The yellow vest protests, so-called because of the fluorescent safety jackets all French drivers have to keep in their cars, began late last year over spiralling fuel and living costs.

But the movement tapped into much deeper frustrations among the struggling working class, and quickly morphed into a wider rebellion against President Emmanuel Macron’s elitist government and pro-business economic policies.

On some occasions, mostly in Paris, the weekly protests have sparked violent clashes between yellow vests and riot police, with both sides accusing the other of abuses.

There has been huge controversy over the rough tactics used by police to restore calm during the protests, namely the use of non-lethal rubber bullets and sting-ball grenades.

Yellow vests say the use of such devices has put demonstrators in unnecessary danger and caused serious injuries. Activists say that 23 protesters have lost the use of an eye, five have lost a hand and one a testicle.

But the protest movement, now in its 32nd consecutive week, has all but fizzled out.

Only 7,000 yellow vests took to the streets of France on Saturday and only 950 in Paris.

The numbers are a far cry from the ones recorded at the height of the crisis, when some 250,000 people took part in anti-government rallies nationwide.

On Monday, Mr Castaner defended the way riot police have handled the unrest as he launched a review of police methods in an effort to develop new ideas for managing violent demonstrations.

“I want to hear what you think about the use of force, about the arms we use and what some call ‘police violence,’” he told a panel of 15 experts cherry-picked to review police tactics.

Mr Castaner, a member of Mr Macron’s inner circle who has taken a tough stance on protest violence, said he did not want police to revert to soft tactics.

“We are not going to respond to Molotov cocktails with nice feelings and we are not going to protect the order of the Republic with soft words,” he said.

The social crisis put a dent in Mr Macron’s authority and forced him to offer a package of expensive concessions worth more than 10 billion euros (£8.9 billion) aimed at boosting the incomes of the poorest workers and pensioners.

But now that support for the movement has waned, Mr Macron is determined to roll out “Act II” of his reform drive, which will include a radical overhaul of France’s complex pensions and unemployment benefits systems.

Both systems are explosive issues that may reignite popular rage, even if the yellow vest revolt has lost momentum.


OUTRAGEOUS!! GUY VERHOFTSTAT EXPLAINS PLANS TO BRIBE POLITICIANS TO GET A SECOND BREXIT VOTE!

the Houndog

ITALY IS SET TO SHAKE THE EU TO IT`S CORE IN 2019!!!

the Houndog

Italy is a ticking clock counting down to a debt confrontation. Even though Matteo Slavini had success in the EU elections, Debt, Infrastructure and Chinese Investment are all critical issues on the horizon. Italy has a big enough economy to alter the financial landscape of Europe!!!

The Assad curse?

Assad requests Macron halt the violence in Paris

Assad demande à Macron de cesser les violences à Paris

Politico,

18 April, 2018

Bashar Al-Assad announced that he was ready to intervene to help Macron to calm the violent demonstrations that have rocked France for the past days. It was during a press conference in Damascus that Bashar Al-Assad has said that the violence terrible pro-palestinian demonstrations should stop immediately, before the entire region was engulfed in a fireball. He told the journalists present to be very worried for the French people, and find the attitude of Macron particularly flippant in the face of risk of civil war hangs over France.

Excerpt from his press conference:

FRANCE IS PRESENTLY PREY TO MANY VIOLENT ACTS THAT CANNOT BE TOLERATED. IN SYRIA, SUCH ACTS WOULD ALREADY HAVE BEEN PUNISHED WITH CALM AND SERENITY. IT IS TIME THAT FRANCE ADOPTS A DOMESTIC POLICY MORE CIVILIZED AND PROTECTS ITS CITIZENS. MY COLLEAGUES in THE MIDDLE EAST Are ALSO CONCERNED about A FLARE up OF The COMPLETE WESTERN EUROPE. FRANCE NEEDS to live up TO ITS STATUS as a COUNTRY OF HUMAN RIGHTS AND to STOP THESE BEHAVIORS of the middle ages. WE ARE PREPARED TO OFFER ASYLUM IN SYRIA, ANY FRENCH CITIZEN WITH FEAR FOR HIS LIFE OR THAT OF HIS FAMILY.

Building up to a weekend confrontation in Paris

Total Media Blackout! Paris Is Far Worse Than They Will Tell You! 

We Are Change

Yellow vests movement spreads further in Europe and announces protest in Amsterdam

Voice of Europe,

6 Dceember, 2018

The yellow vests movement continues to spread across Europe. Originally from France, there were protests in Belgium, the Netherlands and even Germany.

After protests in The Hague and Nijmegen last week, the Dutch protests will now be organised in Amsterdam, newspaper Het Parool reports.

Jikkenien Deerenberg@Jikkenien

Zaterdag 8 december 11.30 uur Stopera, Amsterdam wandelen en zingen#15miljoenmensen #gelehesjes #BezorgdeBurger

Iedereen welkom, zonder spandoeken of vlaggen en geen gezichtsbedekkende sjaals/ bivakmutsen@BartNijman @geenstijl @ANanninga @geertwilderspvv @wierdduk @jndkgrf

Jikkenien Deerenberg@Jikkenien

Vandaag in Den Haag gewandeld en gezongen met @jndkgrf en @umarebru en een mooie groep bezorgde burgers. Die schrijf je niet de wetten voor, die laat je in hun waarde! Die moeten niet 't keurslijf in, die laat je in hun waarde!

343

02:51 - 3 Dec 2018

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According to a spokesperson for Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema, a yellow vest protest was announced on Saturday in the city.

Amsterdam isn’t the first capital to see a yellow vest protest. Earlier Paris, Brussels and Berlin we’re the location of these protests.

The movement, which is mostly peaceful, is already successful in France as President Macron cancelled several tax measures after an increasing number of protests.

But the protests are far from over as several unions have said they will join the movement, as there is a lot of dissatisfaction with Macron’s policies.

French Police Union Calls on Police to Join Yellow Vests' Protests

Sputnik,

6 December, 2018

After the surge in fuel prices in France, the so-called Yellow Vests movement has held protests, calling firstly on the government to lower the prices, and then also on French President Emmanuel Macron to resign. On Wednesday, the French National Assembly approved a moratorium on the planned fuel price hike.

The French labour union Vigi has called on its members working in the national police and in the Ministry of the Interior to start an indefinite strike on Saturday, joining the Yellow Vests movement. The statement was placed on Vigi's Facebook page on Wednesday.

"The demands made by the Yellow Vests movement related to all of us. The time to organize legally and express solidarity with them for the benefit of all has come", Vigi's post reads.

Notre serveur a sauté à cause du trop grand nombre de connexions donc le communiqué de notre appel à la grève à partir du samedi 8 décembre en soutien au mouvement des #GiletsJaunes

"We are being perceived as mercenaries, given bonuses for overtime work, but they cannot compensate for the decisions made by the government", Vigi's statement reads.

The call is directed at "administrative, technical, scientific and state workers/cooks from the Ministry of the Interior", according to the statement.

READ MORE: French Extremists Destabilizing 'Yellow Vests' to Prolong Chaos – Activist

"Act IV" of the Yellow Vests' protests, which is to start on Saturday, will make the government take precautions, as during the previous "Act III", more than 260 people, including some 80 police, were injured.  Earlier, French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner announced that he would reinforce security for next Saturday.

Michel Thooris, the head of the France Police labour union, said that the French government had failed to implement security measures in Paris, noting that "a majority of the French continue to back the movement".  She also highlighted that using the armed forces against civilians would indicate that France is heading towards a civil war.

READ MORE: WATCH Policemen in France Take off Helmets in Solidarity With Fuel Protesters

The protests, which started as a movement against a hike in fuel prices, turned violent, leading to more than 600 people being injured and at least two deaths. The three-week demonstration forced the French government to drop the fuel tax rise from the 2019 budget.

"The government is ready for dialogue and is showing it because this tax increase has been dropped from the 2019 budget bill", Edouard Philippe, the French prime minister, said on December 5.

READ MORE: France Abandons Fuel Tax Increase After Weeks of Protest

France Sends In Army Autos Used In Battle Zones to Take On Paris ‘Yellow Vests’ Protests

the Weeklyn,

7 December, 2018

France was set to deploy armored autos which have been utilized in battle zones to tackle violent protests which have ravaged the capital.

French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe mentioned Thursday that safety forces have been set to ship in as much as a dozen Berliet VXB-170s, recognized to the nation’s Nationwide Gendarmerie because the VBRG, alongside 8,000 police and gendarme officers Saturday to safe Paris, because the gilets jaunes, or “yellow vests,” demonstrations tore by means of streets in protest of a proposed gas tax and different unpopular authorities insurance policies. Philippe pointed to looting and destruction of property in justifying the uncommon measure.

“We face people who find themselves not there to exhibit however are there to smash issues up and we need to be sure that we’re not leaving them to do as they please,” Philippe instructed French broadcaster TF1.

 

FranceVBRG A French Gendarmerie wheeled armored car, often called the VBRG, is seen on this picture shared by the French Ministry of Armed Forces. The autos has been utilized in operations in Kosovo and the Ivory Coast, and isn’t utilized in main cities. French Armed Forces Info and Public Affairs Service

GettyImages-1069380244 Gendarmes present to French Inside minister Christophe Castaner (3R) a Gendarmerie armored car (VBRG) on the cell Gendarmerie armored unit, December 7 in Versailles, west of Paris. Along with the hundreds of police deployed, a dozen armoured wheeled autos of the gendarmerie (VBRG) will probably be utilized in Paris to face the danger of violences through the 4th day of yellow vests mobilization on December 8

The VBRG has been utilized by France’s cell gendarmes since 1975 and is “particularly used throughout legislation enforcement operations and may be engaged in counterterrorism operations, in exterior operations and even in operational protection of territory,” in accordance with the French Protection Ministry’s official web site. The ministry mentioned the car “efficiently engaged in joint operations” through the Kosovo Battle and the First Ivorian Civil Battle.

Able to being outfitted with a 7.62 mm machine gun, 40 mm grenade launcher and a bulldozer-like blade, the VBRG has hardly ever been seen in main metropolis streets. The final time the French safety forces deployed the car was the pressured evacuation of squatting activists on the Notre-Dame-des-Landes in western France in April, and VBRGs have been additionally mobilized throughout riots that hit Paris and its surrounding suburbs in 2005, in accordance with the Sud Ouest newspaper

France has continuously skilled surges of social unrest, however the ongoing turmoil has been described because the worst the nation has seen in half a century, with a number of killed and not less than tons of arrested and tons of extra injured. The “yellow vests” motion will get its identify from the excessive visibility security vests that drivers are mandated by legislation to hold of their autos.

Nationwide protests, strikes and small riots have intermittently continued all year long to October, however the “yellow vests” motion actually took off in November as tons of of hundreds took to the streets in protest of French President Emmanuel Macron’s controversial carbon tax. The measure was designed to fight local weather change by climbing gas costs, however has stoked sufficient outrage for a lot of protestors to demand his resignation.

Protesters construct a barricade throughout a protest of “yellow vests” (gilets jaunes) in opposition to rising oil costs and residing prices, on December 1 in Paris. The continuing unrest has rocked French President Emmanuel Macron’s administration at a time when his reputation was at its lowest level.

 

Highschool college students re-enact yesterday’s scholar arrest in Mantes-la-Jolie throughout an illustration on the place de la Republique in Paris, on December 7 to protest in opposition to the completely different training reforms together with the overhauls and stricter college entrance necessities. Photographs of dozens of high-school pupils kneeling with their palms behind their heads throughout mass round-ups sparked an outcry.

The “yellow vests” have been additionally not a homogenous motion, however comprised of assorted teams, together with employees, college students and activists. The extra violent members have burned down constructions, looted retailers and attacked police. Macron has reportedly thought of declaring a state of emergency because the Eiffel Tower and different websites have been shut down in anticipation of additional unrest, even because the president promised to postpone his divisive proposal.

Whereas scenes of rioters wreaking havoc throughout the nation have drawn criticism, allegations of police brutality have additionally bolstered anti-government sentiment in France. Current movies have emerged exhibiting a number of safety power members beating an unarmed protestor mendacity on the bottom, in addition to college students being pressured in opposition to partitions as police broke up college demonstrations in opposition to Macron’s training reforms.

Blindés, snippers et armes létales: L’Elysée se prépare

In Paris, but not only that, the gendarmerie tanks will be out tomorrow, Friday night. Saturday at dawn, snippers will enter the sensitive places in Paris, the Elysée District of course. And all police officers and gendarmes will have their weapons loaded with authorization to open fire "in case of extreme necessity".

The army will be positioned as reinforcement on, in principle, only static positions, to ensure the guard of the official buildings: Elysée, Senate, National Assembly, ministries etc. However it will have the authorization to move according to the events, to be able to assure its mission. In concrete terms, for example, if the police and gendarmerie are submerged in the vicinity of a building defended by the army, the latter will intervene directly.

Drones will also be widely used, linked to forces in the field.

Specialized teams will be in charge of the evacuation of ministers in case the situation in Paris becomes uncontrollable. An underground base located on the side of Messanges is ready to welcome them, map below for our friends from the southwest ("site 1" and "site 2"). For the record, we have a very detailed file on this base ... "secret" external and internal photos, etc. etc.

Here is my personal response for Saturday in Paris 

Base de repli du gouvernement

Developments in France

Macron On Edge As Up To 120,000 Angry "Yellow Vests" Prepare To Storm The Bastille

Zero Hedge,

3 December, 2018

French President Emmanuel Macron may institute emergency tax cuts in an attempt to stem violent protests which have gripped France for three weeks, according to Bloomberg. 

The government is increasingly worried that the economy, alongside its own political fortunes, is threatened by demonstrations against fuel taxes that have spiraled into a push-back against Macron’s policies.

Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said the impact of the riots was “severe,” and left a meeting of finance ministers in Brussels to return to Paris for crisis talks with colleagues. -Bloomberg

In order to make the tax cuts work, the French government will need to find ways to cut spending that doesn't hobble growth, as well as tax measures that will stimulate the economy. 

For Macron, the stakes are high as he doesn’t want to damage the credibility he needs to push for reforms in Europe. The European Commission has already said his existing budget is at risk of non-compliance with EU rules.

According to Marc Touati, economist and president of business consultancy ACDEFI, Macron may be forced to take a more radical approach, even if that means the deficit slipping a bit. -Bloomberg

 

The protests have crippled revenues across the country, with some large supermarkets seeing drops as much as 25 percent. Hotel bookings have suffered a similar fate. 

Toll-road operators Vinci SA and Eiffage SA meanwhile have seen their share prices decline as they have opened toll booths to let cars pass freely.

Whatever Macron has planned, he better act fast - as there are currently 15,000 angry French Yellow Vests signed up for next Saturday's protests in Paris; three times as many as last weekend, while 104,000 are a "maybe." 

 

Neil Clark✔@NeilClark66

The elites have gone too far. The costs of the 2008 financial crash have been met by ordinary people, not the greedy bankers & financial spivs who caused it. The people have had enough of austerity & falling/stagnant wages. What’s happening in #France now is only the start.

1,645

5:06 AM - Dec 4, 2018

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Pam Anderson, meanwhile, has also weighed in on the issue:

Pamela Anderson✔@pamfoundation

 · 15h

https://www.lemonde.fr/politique/article/2018/12/03/face-a-la-crise-du-mouvement-des-gilets-jaunes-les-prefets-sonnent-l-alerte-politique_5391904_823448.html …

Face à la crise du mouvement des « gilets jaunes », les préfets sonnent l’alerte politique

Sous le sceau de l’anonymat, les représentants de l’Etat critiquent la déconnexion de l’exécutif.

lemonde.fr

Pamela Anderson✔@pamfoundation

And the answer is: it came from the rising tensions between the metropolitan elite and rural poor, between the politcs represented by Macron and the 99% who are fed up with inequality, not only in France, all over the world.

2,472

12:50 AM - Dec 4, 2018

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Prof. Steve Hanke✔@steve_hanke

#Paris burns, while President #Macron pens an empty op-ed in today’s WSJ about climate change. Just shows how detached #Jupiter is from reality, and why his goose is cooked. https://www.wsj.com/articles/mobilize-the-private-sector-to-avert-a-climate-crash-1543786196 …

50

6:28 AM - Dec 4, 2018

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Opinion | Mobilize the Private Sector to Avert a Climate Crash

Government leadership is crucial. But companies must accelerate investment in green solutions.

wsj.com

45 people are talking about this

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***

Leaders of the so-called "Yellow Vest" movement have rejected demands to negotiate with the French government after President Emmanuel Macron ordered his prime minister to hold discussions, according to AFP. Macron and top officials are now in full damage control mode amid the most violent protests France has seen since 1968. 

Approximately 136,000 demonstrators donning yellow reflective vests were recorded across France on Saturday - of which approximately 5,500 protested in the French capital according to the interior ministry. The previous weekend saw 166,000 demonstrators, and 282,000 the week before that.

Robby Starbuck✔@robbystarbuck

This is France right now. You’ve heard media rip Trump for having a mid 40’s approval rating yet they’ve celebrated Macron like he’s a beloved world leader when he has a 27% approval and his country is rioting. The media may love him but the people don’t.

3,955

6:30 AM - Dec 4, 2018

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According to the interior ministry, 412 people were arrested in during Saturday's violent clashes in the French capital, while 263 people were injured. The worst hit areas were the wealthy west and central Paris, where stores were smashed and looted, dozens of cars were burnt, and police forces were overwhelmed by Yellow Vest protesters. 

Amid the chaos, an 80-year-old woman was killed in Marseille when a police tear-gas canister was launched into her apartment window while she was trying to close the shutters. She was taken to a nearby hospital but died during an operation after suffering shock, according to a local media report. She has become the third casualty in the demonstrations which began three weeks ago. 

On Monday, Macron held an urgent security meeting - after which ministers said that while "no options have been ruled out," they had not discussed a state of emergency as had been previously reported.

Conservative leader Marine Le Pen who attended the meeting warned that Macron could become the first French president to order troops to open fire on his own people in 50 years, and that he should abandon his plan to raise taxes on fuel while lowering gas and electricity prices. 

The demonstrations, meanwhile, have had a noted effect on business in the region.

Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire met with business representatives to assess the damage caused to businesses over the weekend.

"The impact is severe and ongoing," Mr Le Maire told the AFP news agency.

Some retailers had seen sales drop by around 20-40% during the demonstrations, while some restaurants had lost 20-50% of their takings, he added. -BBC

 

The protests have continued into Monday according to the BBC, which reports that about 50 Yellow Vest protesters blocked access to a major fuel depot in the port city of Fos-sur-Mer, which is close to Marseille - while gas stations across France have run out of fuel after restrictions on purchases were instated. 

 

As if things weren't bad enough for Macron, on Monday French private ambulance drivers staged further demonstrations against several healthcare and social security reforms which they say could affect their jobs. 

Paramedics blocked the Place de la Concorde near the downtown National Assembly at around 5:30 a.m. local time, sounding their sirens and waving banners condemning the reforms, according to France Info. 

Remy Buisine✔@RemyBuisine

 · 20h

Paris - Blocage surprise de plusieurs centaines d’ambulances devant l’Assemblée Nationale et sur la place de la Concorde.

Remy Buisine✔@RemyBuisine

Depuis plus de 7H, le blocage des ambulanciers devant l’Assemblée Nationale et la Place de la Concorde se poursuit.

Plusieurs axes majeurs de circulation important sont bloqués à Paris. pic.twitter.com/cNzINUfoLP

522

1:21 AM - Dec 4, 2018

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Remy Buisine✔@RemyBuisine

Replying to @RemyBuisine

A 22H06, la mobilisation des ambulanciers se poursuit face à l’Assemblée Nationale avec beaucoup de détermination pour les manifestants encore sur place.

252

10:12 AM - Dec 4, 2018

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Dozens of trucks formed a blockade from Paris's Place de la Concorde to the French National Assembly.

One protester told the Reuters news agency: "[The reforms] will bludgeon us financially and destroy our companies. We're going to have to fire people, that's for sure."

It is unclear if the ambulance drivers are part of the Yellow Vest movement - however recent polls have shown that most of France supports their cause.  

 

Similiar protests have broken out around Europe, as Yellow Vest demonstrations have spread to Belgium, Italy and the Netherlands.