Demonstrators in neon yellow vests, like the kind worn by French roadway workers, blocked major autoroutes and intersections across the country, on Saturday, to protest a new climate-change carbon tax applied to diesel gas. (60% to 70% of the cars in France use diesel.)
The 'yellow vest' protest movement first appeared when the tax hike on diesel gas was announced as part of Macron’s climate-change initiative. The program also includes a ‘cash for clunker’ rebate of 8500 Euros ($9700 US) for drivers who trade in an old gas guzzler for a new electric vehicle.
However, it’s not enough to satisfy the protesters. They say the diesel tax is an unfair burden on the working class who live far from their jobs in the big cities and must commute long distances.
Currently, French drivers pay about $6 or $7 a gallon for regular and diesel gas, depending on grade and location. The higher tax adds about 30 cents to a gallon of diesel, which was formerly taxed less than regular gas.
- Macron’s Interior Minister estimated that 282,000 people took part in more than 2,000 protests nationwide.
- One protester was killed and dozens were injured, several critically, in confrontations between drivers and the demonstrators who blocked their way.
- In Paris, security forces used tear gas to disperse crowds marching toward the Elysée presidential residence.
In Pont-de-Beauvoisin, Isère, a protester was killed after she was hit by a vehicle driven by a woman who was apparently taking her daughter to the doctor's office.
"People were hitting her car and she panicked. She accelerated and hit someone," the local police chief said.
The Interior Minister said that dozens of people, including protesters and police, were injured in similar incidents in many areas.
The video embedded below is from France 24’s English-language channel.
In Paris, where most workers get around on the Métro instead of their own private vehicles, the demonstrations were somewhat poorly attended by “fed-up” protesters expressing a variety of frustrations.
The video embedded below is also from France 24’s English-language channel.
More coverage from France 24’s English language channel can be found at the links below:
https://www.france24.com/en/20181113-france-angry-drivers-block-road-protest-tax-increase-diesel-fuel
https://www.france24.com/en/20181117-france-live-yellow-vest-protesters-block-roads-fuel-tax-hike-macron-petrol
Coverage in French by ‘Le Monde’ can be found here:
https://www.lemonde.fr/societe/live/2018/11/17/suivez-en-direct-la-mobilisation-des-gilets-jaunes-a-travers-la-france_5384807_3224.html
https://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2018/11/16/pourquoi-la-hausse-du-diesel-cristallise-la-grogne-des-banlieues-et-des-campagnes_5384675_3224.html