Fox News
December 6, 2018
French President Emmanuel Macron has canceled a planned fuel tax increase after three weeks of nationwide protests that left four people dead and sparked the worst anti-government riot in Paris since 2005.
An official with the Elysee Palace told The Associated Press on Wednesday that the president decided to get rid of the tax, while Prime Minister Edouard Philippe confirmed to lawmakers that “the tax is now abandoned” in the 2019 budget. A day earlier, Philippe announced that the tax increase would be suspended for six months.
But despite the government’s concession, protest leaders have said demonstrations are likely to continue with trade unions and farmers joining the fray against Macron’s increasingly unpopular policies.
Jacline Mouraud, a self-proclaimed spokesperson for the so-called “yellow vest” protesters, told The Associated Press that Macron’s move “is on the right path but in my opinion it will not fundamentally change the movement.” She urged protesters to seize on the French government’s weakness to push other demands such as a rise in the minimum wage. More protests are planned for Saturday in Paris.
This article was posted: Thursday, December 6, 2018 at 9:11 am
Print this page.