French President Emmanuel Macron has caved in to Yellow Vest protesters, declaring a state of emergency and agreeing to a range of economic concessions after weeks of violence swept the country.
Addressing the nation at the Presidential Elysee Palace this evening Mr Macron promised to increase the minimum wage, stop taxing overtime and decreasing pension contributions from 2019.
Declaring a ‘social and economic’ state of emergency he took responsibility for the violent protests in Paris and dozens of other French cities in the name of the ‘Yellow Vest’ movement.
Addressing the French people President Emmanuel Macron declared a ‘social and ecomonic state of emergency’ following weeks of violence across the country
State of Emergency: French President Emmanuel Macron has declared a social and economic state of emergency in response to violent protests by members of the Yellow Vest movement in recent weeks. Pictured: A fire breaks out during a protest in Toulouse
A historic moment in our country’s history: Macron took his share of responsibility for the violence that has swept Paris and number of other French towns and cities
Speaking from the Presidential Palace in Paris Mr Macron apologised for his actions, saying they were only in the name of the French people and a love of his country.
He described recent weeks as a ‘historic moment in France’s history’ and the expression of ’40 years of discontent’ , saying now is the time for dialogue and respect between the French Government and the people.
He also promised a long anticipated debate on immigration and vowed to cut state bureaucracy, which he said had been ‘too centralised’ for over a decade.
Among the measures promised were a 100 euro-a-month increase in minimum wage from 2019, along with no tax on overtime hours worked and no more contributions for pensioners with an income of less than 2,000 euros a month.
Mr Macron (pictured at the Elysee Palace in Paris this evening) also promised a long anticipated debate on immigration and vowed to cut state bureaucracy, which he said had been ‘too centralised’ for over a decade
It comes after the French Foreign Ministry were alerted to fake images of protesters, and potentially false Twitter accounts tweeting supports for the Gilets Jaunes – or Yellow Vests.
Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said security services have been alerted to the accounts and are investigating. The pattern follows similar trends to those seen around the Brexit vote and US presidential election.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov strongly denied the allegation, saying the riots were a matter of ‘the domestic affairs of France’, adding: ‘We have not interfered and we don’t plan to interfere in the domestic affairs of any country including France.’
The French presidential election was also targeted in the same way, but Macron managed to avoid the smears by planting false information which was then shared by the accounts.
More than 1,700 people were arrested amid riots across France at the weekend with 1,000 of those taking place in Paris alone (pictured, burned-out scooters in the city)
French finance minister Bruno Le Maire has warned that the riots could end up costing France 0.1 per cent of GDP, or £2billion
It comes after the deputy mayor of Paris, which has been the focal point of the clashes, said the bill for just one weekend of rioting last month was £1.1million.
The yellow vest movement – named after high-visibility vests worn by demonstrators – began online earlier this year, before spreading to the streets in November.
What started as opposition to a proposed fuel tax rise by Macron has since snowballed into a anger about a lack of concern for the poor and working class.
They see Macron as a ‘leader for the rich’ and are demanding – among other things – a reintroduction of taxes on the rich, a rise in minimum wage, and for Macron to go.
But on Monday Le Maire categorically ruled out a wealth tax as a route out of the crisis, saying there would be no return to Socialist-style purges on the rich.
‘Our country is deeply divided between those who see that globalisation has benefitted them and others who can’t make ends meet and who see globalisation not as an opportunity but as a threat,’ said Mr Le Maire.
However, he said the Solidarity Tax on Wealth, or the ISF as it is known in France, that his government scrapped in September 2017 would not be reinstated.
It levied a direct wealth tax on all those with assets of more than the equivalent of £1.1million – the current price of a two bedroom flat in Paris.
What began as a protest over a proposed rise in fuel tax has spiralled into demonstrations against Macron’s pro-business agenda, with calls for him to leave office
Graffiti in Paris calling for Macron, far-right leader Marine Le Pen and Leftist figurehead Jean-Luc Mélenchon to leave politics
A highly offensive graffiti slogan denounces Emmanuel Macron and his policies in Paris
Ending ISF earned Mr Macron the nickname ‘President of the Rich’, but Mr Le Maire told RTL radio: ‘Does the ISF help reduce poverty, reduce our debts, reduce public spending?
‘No, if you want to hunt for money, go knocking on the doors of the digital tech companies.’
France will unilaterally tax online giants from 2019 if the EU cannot reach an agreement on the issue, said Mr Le Maire, who added: ‘It’s time they paid a fair level of tax.’
Mr Le Maire said it was the ‘president’s role to unify the country,’ especially as the country was an ‘economic catastrophe’ that was costing the economy billions.
Cities including Paris and Bordeaux were wracked with violence on Saturday, during the fourth weekend of demonstrations.
Mr Macron remained holed-up in the Elysee Palace in Paris as buildings were set on fire, shops were looted, and police were attacked.
Armoured cars, water canon and thousands of rounds of tear gas were used against the Yellow Vests, who are named after the high visibility jackets all motorists carry in France.
They have been joined by agitators from the Left and Right, as well as criminal groups determined to cause mayhem.
There were more than 1,000 arrests in Paris alone on Saturday, while the national figure was 1,723.
Thousands chanted ‘Macron Resign’ and ‘Police Everywhere – Justice Nowhere’ as they rampaged throughout the centre of the French capital.
The independent Mr Macron, leader of the Republic On The Move party, won the French presidential election with a landslide in 2017, but polls now show his popularity rating as just 18 per cent.