'Yellow vest' protesters in Paris, Toulouse, Bordeaux
December 15, 2018
Police in Paris on Saturday said they had arrested some 157 people during the "yellow vest" or "gilets jaunes" protests in opposition to President Emmanuel Macron's government. Of these, 104 had been held for questioning.
Scuffles broke out when police fired tear gas to disperse a small crowd trying to make its way through police lines near the Avenue des Champs-Elysees, a main thoroughfare in the center of the city.
Around 8,000 police have been deployed in the French capital for the fifth weekend of demonstrations against pro-business reforms and falling living standards. By late afternoon, just 400 protesters were still on the Champs-Elysees and police used water cannon to try to disperse them. The avenue later reopened to traffic.
Read more: Emmanuel Macron and the 'yellow vests': Can they cooperate?
Authorities had been keen to avoid a repeat of previous demonstrations, which erupted into violence and vandalism.
Security tightened
DW's Helena Humphrey, reporting from Paris on Saturday, described a significant police presence, and said that news crews were having their baggage checked as well.
Police reinforced their presence Toulouse, Bordeaux and Saint-Etienne. In Toulouse, police said 850 people had protested, compared with 5,500 last weekend. In Bordeaux, there were 4,500 demonstrators, the same as last weekend.
In Marseille, a thousand people were on the streets, compared with 2,000 last Saturday.
The demonstrators who turned out had ignored Macron's calls for "calm, order and a return to normal."
An attack on a Christmas market in Strasbourg on Tuesday had increased fears of a further terror attack.
Laurent Nunez, junior interior minister, warned late on Friday that while fewer protesters were expected, security forces would likely have to tackle "individuals who are slightly more determined."
The "yellow vest" protests began more than a month ago with blockades at junctions and roundabouts across France in opposition to rising fuel taxes, but have erupted into a wider battle against rising living costs and Macron's leadership style.
Read more: French government scraps fuel tax hike after 'yellow vest' protests
Facing the biggest crisis of his presidency, Macron this week announced a series of concessions, including a package of tax cuts and a hike in the minimum wage.
Support waning
Public opinion, which had broadly supported the protests, appears to be turning. Two polls published on Tuesday suggest the country was split 50-50 on whether the protests should continue.
Many prominent figures in the largely leaderless movement have vowed to keep up their campaign.
mm/jm (AFP, AP, dpa, Reuters)