Macron tells France: ‘I know that I have hurt some of you’

French President Emmanuel Macron has promised “all means” will be used to restore calm after the disruptive protests that have deeply shaken the nation.

Last night, Mr Macron addressed France for the first time since anti-tax protests around the country turned into rioting in Paris.

He acknowledged “anger and indignation” among the public over the cost of living, but he also said “no indulgence” would be given to people behind the protest violence.

He said “no anger justifies” attacking police or looting stores, saying both threaten France’s cherished liberty.

Mr Macron promised to speed up tax relief for struggling workers and to scrap a tax hike for retirees.

He reiterated earlier promises to raise the minimum wage and pledged to abolish taxes on overtime pay starting on January 1, several months before schedule.

Healsosaidataxhikeonpensioners would be scrapped.

All of the measures had been demanded by the yellow-vested protesters who have led four weeks of increasingly radicalised demonstrations against Mr Macron’s presidency.

Mr Macron acknowledged being partially responsible for the anger that fuelled the protests, saying: “We probably have not been able for a year and a half to bring quick enough and strong enough responses.”

He also acknowledged he may have given an impression “not to care” about the concerns of ordinary citizens and “might have hurt” some people with his comments

Mr Macron is perceived by many in France as arrogant, for instance telling an unemployed man he could find a job if he “crosses the street” and advising a retiree not to complain.

Fallout from the protests so far could cost France 0.1 per cent of gross domestic product in the last quarter of the year, Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire warned yesterday. “That means fewer jobs, it means less prosperity for the whole country,” he said.

The “yellow vest” protests began as a movement against a rise in fuel taxes that Macron eventually abandoned, but have mushroomed to include a plethora of sometimes contradictory demands - increasingly including Macron’s resignation.

“Macron is there for the rich, not for all the French,” 68-year-old retiree Jeanpierre Meunuer said at Saturday’s protests in Paris.

Some members of the movement are already planning new action next Saturday, amid calls from police officers exhausted by four weekends of rioting for the payment of overtime work instead of bonuses.