Macron expected to offer tax cuts in hopes of appeasing Yellow Vests
French President Emmanuel Macron faced a moment of truth last night during his first address to the nation since protests broke out across the country.
The protests began in response to a new carbon tax and further taxes on fuel, but quickly expanded into anti-government demonstrations.
The speech, due to be broadcast on French TV, followed four weeks of violent demonstrations. He has not been seen in public since they began.
Mr Macron was expected to announce “immediate and concrete measures”, including possible tax breaks and an increase in benefits, government officials said, although there was no indication of what the measures would look like or if they would be enough to placate protesters
Labour Minister Muriel Penicaud ruled out a rise in the minimum wage, which was one of the protesters’ key demands, warning that such a move would kill jobs.
Yesterday morning, Mr Macron met political leaders, unions and business leaders to consult with them over possible reforms.
The Bank of France warned that economic growth was set to slow to 0.2 per cent, down from 0.4 per cent, at least in part because of the protests.
French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire described the unrest as “a disaster for commerce. It’s a disaster for our economy”.
“Mr Macron’s spokesman Benjamin Griveaux said: “It is clear that we underestimated people’s need to make themselves heard. I am sure that the president will manage to find the path to the hearts of the French and touch their hearts and talk to their hearts.”
Paris was hit hardest by the demonstrators, known as the Yellow Vests. Clashes at the weekend damaged shops along the Champs Elysee. Pavements were spray-painted with slogans and dozens of police officers were injured.
Protests also took place in Bordeaux and Lyon.
“It is difficult to give in on the margins while preserving the essential rules, knowing that the coffers of the state are empty,” political commentator Laurent Bodin said.
“The president cannot totally deny what he has done for 18 months. That would deprive him of the support of the 20 per cent of French [people] who still trust him.”
About 10,000 took to the streets of the French capital on Saturday and the Interior Ministry said police had arrested more than 1,000 people.
Mr Macron also had to deal with a tweet from US President Donald Trump.
“The Paris Agreement isn’t working out so well for Paris. Protests and riots all over France,” Mr Trump tweeted.
France announced that it was investigating possible Russian support for the protests, after it was claimed that about 600 Twitter accounts usually supportive of Moscow had tweeted in support of the demonstrations.
A Kremlin spokesman denied the allegations.