Paris police repeatedly use tear gas on day of protests
PARIS — Clusters of anti-government activists in Paris repeatedly scuffled with police who responded with tear gas Saturday as supporters of France’s yellow vest protests tried to revive the movement opposed to President Emmanuel Macron’s economic policies.
In the morning, officers dispersed small crowds of demonstrators who tried to gather in central areas where police have banned protests this weekend. Most weren’t wearing the motorist safety vests that gave the movement its name.
Police in full anti-riot gear moved quickly and used tear gas on and around the Champs-Elysees avenue, a frequent location for protests after the first yellow vest demonstrations against fuel taxes started 10 months ago.
Environmental activists and a leftist workers union also had organized Saturday protests. France’s annual heritage weekend, a popular event when many cultural sites are open to the public, was taking place.
Authorities deployed more than 7,000 officers and banned protests in a large central area including the presidential palace, government and parliament buildings, the Champs-Elysees, the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame Cathedral.
Paris police said at least 163 people had been arrested as of Saturday afternoon, and nearly 400 received the equivalent of $149 fines for demonstrating in a banned area.
The yellow vest movement emerged in November 2018 and swelled into weekly protests in Paris and other French cities that led to often-violent clashes between protesters and police. The demonstrations petered out this summer.
Macron made multiple concessions to the movement, including a 10 billion-euro package of measures to boost purchasing power. But anger is now mounting again over his plans to overhaul France’s costly, convoluted pension system.
Some of the anti-government protesters joined thousands of people at a south Paris march demanding urgent action to curb climate change. Officers ended up also using tear gas at that demonstration as well.