Macron seeks way out of crisis following Paris riots
PROTESTS HAVE ERUPTED OVER FUEL TAXES AND HAVE SPIRALLED TO INCLUDE OTHER ISSUES
French leader Emmanuel Macron faced growing pressure yesterday to find a way out of the worst crisis of his presidency after shocking scenes of rioting in Paris at the weekend.
As more than 100 people prepared to appear in court over the worst clashes in central Paris in decades on Saturday, Macron’s government was preparing its response.
Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, who cancelled a scheduled trip to Poland, was set to meet the heads of the main political parties, many of whom sense opportunities in Macron’s woes.
No roll-backs
But the 40-year-old president appeared determined not to roll back the unpopular hikes in fuel tax that sparked the protests, or announce state handouts for poor families.
“Thinking that, as we have always done for 30 years, that you make a little symbolic gesture and then we sweep the dust under the carpet, that doesn’t resolve the fundamental, ■ structural problem,” spokesman Benjamin Griveaux said on France Inter radio.
The protests erupted over fuel taxes but have since morphed into a wider wave of resistance to Macron’s economic reforms, with a third round of demonstrations called for Saturday in Paris.
Macron, a centrist, was elected in May 2017 on a probusiness platform that promised measures to incite companies to invest to create jobs.
Immediately after coming to power, he pushed through tax cuts for entrepreneurs and high-earners — policies that have become a lightning rod for anger among the so-called “gilets jaunes” or “yellow vests”.
Macron’s task now is also complicated by his own desire not to yield to France’s street protests, which in the past have repeatedly forced his predecessors into U-turns.
Jacline Mouraud, one of the protest movement’s prime instigators, told AFP that scrapping the fuel tax was a “prerequisite for any discussion” with the government.
After his meeting political rivals on Monday, Prime Minister Philippe is set to hold talks with representatives of the “yellow vests” today.
He would then announce “measures” aimed at taking the heat out of the protests, his office said.
“Mr President, we need a response,” demanded the frontpage headline of Le Parisien newspaper on Monday.
“Swamped” read the headline of left-leaning Liberation newspaper.
Amid criticism of policing methods on Saturday that saw dozens of cars torched and shops vandalised, the government ruled out imposing a state of emergency.
people expected to appear in court over the clashes.