PARIS, Feb 16 (NNN-AGENCIES) – Demonstrators are to hit French city
streets again Saturday, marking three months of “yellow vest” protests as a
poll now suggests that most of the country wants them to stop.
The number of those attending the weekly rallies has dropped since 287,000
turned out on Nov 17, the first Saturday of protest.
And for the first time, a poll found Wednesday that more than half those
questioned felt it was time to end the protests.
On Feb 9, the 13th weekend of anti-government actions, 51,000 people
took to the streets according to police, though protest organisers put the
figure at 118,000.
Violence has marred nearly every large-scale rally.
In Paris, where 4,000 gathered last week, clashes broke out outside the
National Assembly building where one demonstrator lost a hand, reportedly as he tried to bat away a stun grenade.
Masked activists tried to break down barriers protecting the parliament but
were repelled by police firing tear gas and grenades.
As the march continued, vandals burned rubbish bins and cars and smashed bus shelters, cash machines and shop windows along the route.
One of the torched vehicles belonged to Sentinelle, an anti-terrorism unit.
Interior Minister Christophe Castaner expressed his “indignation and disgust” in a tweet.
Some 550 shops have been damaged by protesters in the capital since mid
November.
Thousands of protesters also turned out in the southern cities of
Marseille, Montpellier, Bordeaux and Toulouse — strongholds of the movement — as well as several cities in the north and west of France.
The “yellow vest” movement started as a protest against rising fuel taxes,
but it has become one of opposition to President Emmanuel Macron’s policies.
Speaking at a meeting with local mayors on Thursday, Macron said it was
time for a “return to reason”, adding that authorities would act with
“greater firmness” against violent demonstrators.
The interior ministry said 1,796 people have been sentenced for rioting or
other acts of violence over the past three months, while 1,422 more are
awaiting trial.
Ex-boxer Christophe Dettinger who became a hero to some protesters after
beating up police officers during a demonstration in January was convicted
Wednesday and given a one-year prison term.
An Elabe opinion poll published Wednesday said 56 percent of French people now wanted the protests to stop — 11 points higher than a month ago.
And while 58 percent of people still backed or had sympathy for the
protesters, that was five points lower than two weeks ago and nine points
below the level in early January.
Two out of three people thought the recurring Saturday rallies were no
longer in keeping with what “yellow vests” originally stood for.
Macron has pledged 10 billion euros in response to anger
over the high cost of living, including tax cuts for some pensioners and
measures to boost low wages.
He has also spearheaded a “grand national debate” by way of the internet
and town hall meetings to gather opinions on how the country could be
reformed.
It was not known how many people might turn out for protests over the
weekend as social media messaging has alternatively called for blocking the
Arc de Triomphe monument in Paris Saturday, or marching down the Champs-Elysees avenue on Sunday.
Others suggested “yellow vests” should return to their original tactics of
massing at roundabouts nationwide and blocking traffic. — NNN-AGENCIES
