Cops use tear gas on protesters
some areas looked like they were bracing for a hurricane, with boards on windows covering up festive decorations. The central Metro system was closed, while Christmas markets, football matches and many other events were cancelled. Pol ice removed objects that could be used as weapons, mainly at building sites, but still had to deal with scuffles. The protests began as resistance against fuel tax rises – now abandoned – but grew to encompass other grievances including stagnant incomes and the rising cost of living.
US President Donald Trump tweeted yesterday: “The Paris Agreement isn’t working out so well for Paris. Protests and riots all over France.
“People do not want to pay large sums of money, much to third world countries (that are questionably run), in order to maybe protect the environment.”
Although Macron agreed to abandon the fuel tax hike, that has not defused the anger, embodied by the f luorescent safety vests French motorists are required to keep in their cars.
Protests were also underway elsewhere in Europe.
Police in Belgium’s capital Brussels used pepper spray in scuff les with protesters who tried to break through barricades blocking access to the European Parliament yesterday.
By contrast, in the Dutch city of Rotterdam, a few hundred protesters in the high-visibility vests walked peacefully across the Erasmus Bridge singing and handing flowers to passers-by.