Macron ‘tried to escape pressure with skiing trip’
PROTESTS in France will continue no matter what security measures the French government intends to take, as increasing pressure is a poor answer to the people’s socio-economic demands, says Christophe Chalencon, who calls himself the Yellow Vest movement’s spokesperson.
The comment comes after media reported on Monday that French President Emmanuel Macron was considering banning all rallies on the Champs Elysees after a group of aggressive activists smashed boutiques on the main Parisian avenue on Saturday.
The 18th week of rallies was also marked by clashes with the police, with the protesters acting aggressively.
“The problem is that even if they prohibit protests at the Champs Elysees… the manifestations will move elsewhere.… People who didn’t see the changes that could improve their living conditions, will continue fighting,” said Chalencon.
He stressed that the Yellow Vests were “not vandals”, and that there were some “black sheep” that came to protests only to destroy everything. Yet, he said, the “clear” rise in violence was understandable since the government failed to come up with a political solution to the socio-economic problems that triggered the protests.
“Today, Macron doesn’t give an answer, his response is increasing repressions. And what we saw on Saturday is an answer to it. I’ve been saying that increasing pressure could not lead to anything but more violence, because it’s not with repressions that we increase people’s purchasing power,” he said.
Chalencon suggested that Macron, who, he says, tightened security around the Elysee Palace and then went for a skiing trip at the weekend, was thereby seeking to escape pressure.
“He left the capital as he knew there would be a great pressure. There were 10 CRS (Republican security companies), 1 000 policemen who circled the Elysee Palace, fearing intervention.
“This means that the government is afraid. If they don’t come up with political solution, this government is dead, it’s certain,” he said.
“The problem of Macron is that he doesn’t even question his politics… He needs to meet the Yellow Vests, sit down with them, listen to what they have to say and come up with a solution together.
“And he avoids it… he knows that he will not be a winner in this situation, that he will have to change his politics,” he said.
Chalencon said the president’s initiative to launch national debates amid the protests was an attempt to win time instead of finding a solution to the deadlock.
Chalencon said the Yellow Vests created a political movement, Citizen Evolution, in the run-up to the May European Parliament elections and stressed the need to change the system “where people vote for someone who doesn’t represent their interests out of fear”.