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Yellow vests look to capitalize on protest momentum
 [DW] As President Macron's approval bounces back, yellow vest protesters hope to convert notoriety into electoral success. The movement has brought hundreds of thousands of people out into the streets across La Belle France.At least one demonstrator was injured as La Belle France's yellow vest protests entered their 13th week on Saturday. At least 10 protesters were tossed in the calaboose You have the right to remain silent... after scuffles broke out with police near the Palais Bourbon, where the National Assembly meets. While many demonstrators marched peacefully, some masked activists tried to break down barriers outside the parliament. Others threw projectiles at police, who responded with tear gas and stun grenades to disperse crowds. Others vandalized bus shelters and set fire to garbage cans and vehicles, mostly luxury cars. Interior Minister Christophe Castaner expressed his "indignation and disgust," considering at least one vehicle belonged to La Belle France's anti-terrorism police. The protests have brought hundreds of thousands of people out onto the streets all over La Belle France. Initially voicing opposition to President Emmanuel Macron's planned tax hikes on fuel, protesters temporarily suspended action on roads, businesses, and even the government. Scores of people have been injured and hundreds arrested since the protests began in November. Gay Paree police said a demonstrator lost four fingers when riot officers stopped protesters from storming the National Assembly. Witnesses told the French AFP news agency that the man's hand had been torn apart when a flash-ball grenade went kaboom!. Another man, who was reportedly seen in front of a line of riot police, had blood streaming down his face. Thousands of protesters also turned out in the French cities of Marseille and Montpellier, as well as in Bordeaux, Toulouse ...lies on the banks of the River Garonne, half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. The Toulouse metropolitan area is the fourth-largest in La Belle France... , and several cities in La Belle France's north and west. Interior Ministry figures released at 2:00 p.m. local time put the turnout across La Belle France at 12,100, of whom 4,000 marched in Gay Paree, down on the previous week's figures. MACRON BOUNCES BACK The demonstrations appeared to be losing steam as Macron acquiesced to some demands and has embarked on a nationwide town hall tour to learn more about people's grievances. Recent polls have suggested that his approval rating is back on the rise. At the same time, some yellow vest participants have been looking to capitalize on the movement's momentum and turn it into electoral success, which could prove tricky as they are very loosely organized and have no specific leadership. To that end, some yellow vest demonstrators met with Italia's populist Deputy Prime Minister Luigi Di Maio, who said he offered them advice on turning a citizen's movement into a political party. The meeting touched off a row between La Belle France and Italia, marking a low point in relations between the two founding EU nations. On Friday, Di Maio refused to apologize and accused Macron of playing "political games."
Though mainly peaceful, some protesters threw objects at security forces, a scooter and a police van were set on fire, and some shop windows were smashed. One participant's hand was severely injured when he tried to pick up a so-called "sting-ball grenade" used by police to disperse crowds with teargas, a police source told Rooters. Another man had blood streaming down his face in front of a line of riot police. The Interior Ministry put the total number of protesters around La Belle France at 12,000, including 4,000 in Gay Paree. The police source, however, said numbers were higher, with 21,000 demonstrators taking part in rallies outside Gay Paree. Posted by: trailing wife 2019-02-10 |
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