Police use tear gas on Paris protest
THOUSANDS of protesters took to the streets in France in the fifth weekend of nationwide demonstrations against Emmanuel Macron’s government.
Around 8,000 police were deployed though officials said only 35,000 “gilet jaunes” – yellow vests – took part, around half that of last week.
This was due partly to concessions by the premier, as well as a truce after a terror attack in Strasbourg on Tuesday.
A police source said 16,000 protesters had been counted across the country, excluding Paris, by 11am, compared to 22,000 at the same time on December 8.
In Paris, police used tear gas near the Champs Elysees as groups of hundreds of protesters marched, and 85 had been arrested by midday. Major stores, including Galeries Lafayette, remained open to Christmas shoppers.
The yellow vests movement started last month with protests at junctions and roundabouts against fuel tax but became a wider mobilisation against the president’s economic policies.
Last week Mr Macron announced an increase to the minimum wage, scrapped a planned fuel tax hike and axed proposed taxes on low-income pensioners and overtime pay.