Macron considers banning protests on Champs Elysees

PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron is considering banning all demonstrations on the Champs Elysees after ‘yellow vest’ rioters wrecked the iconic Parisian avenue last weekend, an official from the president’s office said.

On Saturday, protesters related with the ‘yellow vest’ movement burned down the famous Fouquet’s restaurant on the Champs Elysees as well as several newspaper stands, a Longchamp luxury goods shop and vehicles.

Following Saturday’s riots, that were reminiscent of violent clashes last December on the Champs Elysees between protesters and police, Macron summoned a meeting with the interior and justice ministers yesterday.

The French government faced heavy criticism Sunday over failing to maintain law and order during an arson and looting rampage by ‘yellow vest’ protesters along the famous Champs-Elysees .

Saturday’s demonstrations were characterised by a sharp increase in violence after weeks of dwindling turnout. It was the 18th consecutive weekend of demonstrations which began in mid-November as a protest against fuel price hikes but then morphed

There was a wave of violence, we’re dealing with the aftermath of the chaos. We’re trying to reassure all the employees and then there are those who live here, too. Jean-Noel Reinhardt, head of Committee Champs-Elysees

into a potent anti- government movement.

“There was a wave of violence, we’re dealing with the aftermath of the chaos. We’re trying to reassure all the employees and then there are those who live here, too,” said Jean- Noel Reinhardt, head of the Committee ChampsElysees, a local association with 180 members, most of them businesses.

He said residents and business owners were pushing for talks with Prime Minister Edouard Philippe ‘ to share our exasperation and explain our complaints’.

“The authorities must put an end to this situation,” he insisted.

Socialist mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo said she was waiting for ‘an explanation’ from the government, declaring herself ‘really angry’ at the ‘unprecedented violence’.

In an interview in the Le Parisien newspaper Hidalgo added “we should be able to master a situation like the one we have just witnessed.

“We are in the middle of a major social and political crisis... we can’t carry on like this.”

“Enough is enough. And this Saturday went too far!” raged Bernard Stalter, president of CMA France, a national network of chambers of trades and crafts.

Police used tear gas, stun grenades and water cannon to try repel protesters who gathered at the foot of the Arc de Triomphe war memorial, which was sacked by protesters on Dec 1.

But for seven hours they continued to be pelted with paving stones by mostly blackclad demonstrators.

A judicial source said 200 people, including 15 minors, were being held in custody after Saturday’s events. Earlier the authorities said 237 people had been arrested.

In recent weeks, the protests have dwindled in size. But the interior ministry estimated the turnout in Paris on Saturday at 10,000, out of around 32,300 nationwide. — AFP