Macron caves in with tax cuts for rioters

EMMANUEL Macron last night announced a string of pay rises and tax breaks in a bid to end weeks of rioting.

‘Yellow vest’ fuel protesters first took to the streets on November 17, and succeeded in forcing France’s president to scrap new green charges on petrol and diesel. However, Mr Macron had originally said he would not yield to the rioters as they continued to wreak havoc.

Yesterday’s reforms mark a huge U-turn from the president, who has tried to liberalise France’s sluggish economy. In a 12-minute TV address, he said the yellow vest protesters – named after the items French motorists are legally obliged to keep in their cars – had left the nation in an ‘economic and social state of emergency’.

He announced a €100 (£90) increase to the monthly minimum wage, previously set at €1,498 (£1,354). France will also introduce a taxfree end-of-year bonus system, and stop taxing those earning less than €2,000 (£1,808) a month. Scrapping state levies on overtime, Mr Macron claimed the reforms would not cost employers anything. He also agreed to reduce an unpopular tax rise for pensioners.

‘I heard the anger was first of all against the [fuel] tax, but it’s deeper than that, and this anger could be our chance,’ he said. ‘I heard the despair of the forgotten people. There are couples who struggle to make ends meet, brave single mothers or widows who can’t afford child care, and poor pensioners who often have to help children and grandchildren.’

The riots have led to more than 4,500 arrests across France. Polls show Mr Macron’s popularity rating has fallen as low as 18 per cent.