PROTESTS: French President Macron announces range of conciliatory measures

Embattled soft-speaking French President Emmanuel Macron has announced a range of conciliatory measures in a bid to quell violent protests over a hike in diesel tax.

The move by Macron aims at appeasing “yellow vest” protesters, including increasing the minimum wage and canceling a planned social security tax hike for pensioners earning less than 2,000 euros ($2,272).

“We will respond to the economic and social urgency with strong measures, by cutting taxes more rapidly, by keeping our spending under control, but not with U-turns,” he said in a televised address, his first public comments in nine days.

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During the weekend, France’s ‘yellow vests’ protesters seemed unfazed despite the arrest of 211 people by security officials as they hurled projectiles, torched cars and vandalised shops and restaurants in a fourth weekend of unrest over a hike in diesel tax.

Reports say police used tear gas, water cannon and horses to charge protesters on roads fanning out from the Champs Elysees boulevard.

Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said there had been about 10,000 protesters in Paris by early evening and some 125,000 across the country.
Bordeaux, Lyon, Toulouse and other cities also saw major clashes between protesters and police on Saturday.

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