France Yellow Vests Week 377*Killing Of Nationalist Stirs Government Action*Macron Rebukes Italian Leader*PM Pushes New Speech Law Before Jewish Group*Cabinet Shuffle Delayed*

This week in France the justice system cracking down following the killing of a Nationalist on the Right during a fight with Leftists in Lyon on February 12th.

Quentin Deranque's murder triggering a cataclysm with massive media attention devoted to the case.

The first round of municipal elections is just 22 days away a delicate political balance...

By Thursday the Public Prosecution Service had seven suspects they wanted to charge in the death of Quentin Deranque including Jacques-Elie Favro.

President Emmanuel Macron critical of Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni after she denounced the killing of Quentin Deranque.

Meloni spoke of 'a climate of ideological hatred sweeping several nations' citing 'groups linked to left-wing extremism'....

Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu addressing a Jewish conference in Paris on Friday. Lecornu supporting a proposed law to criminalize statements calling for the destruction of a nation...

A major point of protest in France today Lyon where a march was held in honor of Quentin Deranque...

This weekend word that a cabinet reshuffle expected to happen by Sunday has been delayed...

These protests ended in 2019, 7 years ago.

Per Grok:
https://grok.com/c/dfd9ca38-95ec-49b6-8f2a-fa635ab46f36?rid=7c283148-693e-4759-b09c-d84d547b19a4

The Yellow Vests protests (known in French as Mouvement des Gilets Jaunes) represent one of the most significant grassroots protest movements in modern French history. They began in late 2018 and continued with varying intensity into the early 2020s, though the peak activity was in 2018–2019.
Origins and Trigger (2018)

The movement originated from online petitions and social media in mid-2018, particularly a petition by Priscillia Ludosky against rising fuel prices and a planned increase in fuel taxes (including a carbon tax component) under President Emmanuel Macron’s government. These taxes were framed as part of an ecological transition but were seen by many as regressive, disproportionately affecting lower- and middle-income people in rural, peri-urban, and suburban areas who rely heavily on cars for daily life and work.

An online petition gained nearly a million signatures by late 2018.

Protesters adopted the high-visibility yellow safety vests (mandatory in French cars for emergencies) as a symbol, leading to the name “Gilets Jaunes.”

Peak Phase and Key Events (Late 2018–Early 2019)
The protests erupted nationwide on November 17, 2018 (”Act I”), with around 280,000–300,000 people blocking roads, roundabouts, and highways across France. This was largely spontaneous, decentralized, and without formal leadership from unions or political parties.

November 24, 2018 (”Act II”): Protests grew violent in Paris, with clashes on the Champs-Élysées.
December 1, 2018 (”Act III”): Major violence in Paris, including vandalism at the Arc de Triomphe, luxury shops looted, and widespread barricades. This was one of the most intense weekends.

December 2018: At their height, protests enjoyed broad public support (often over 70% in polls). Demands expanded beyond fuel taxes to include economic inequality, higher taxes on the wealthy, better public services, minimum wage increases, and political reforms like the Citizens’ Initiative Referendum (RIC) for direct democracy.
Macron responded by scrapping the fuel tax hike in early December 2018, announcing wage increases, and making a public apology—a rare move. He later launched a “Great National Debate” to address grievances.

Protests continued weekly (mostly Saturdays) for months, with occupations of roundabouts becoming a hallmark in smaller towns and rural areas.
Evolution and Decline (2019–2020)

The movement broadened to anti-government sentiment, criticizing Macron as arrogant and out-of-touch with ordinary people.

It remained largely leaderless and horizontal, though some figures emerged, and attempts to form political lists (e.g., for European elections) largely failed.
Violence persisted in some demonstrations, leading to thousands of injuries (police and civilians), arrests, and property damage.

By 2019–2020, participation declined, partly due to government concessions, fatigue, heavy policing, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Official end is often dated to June 28, 2020, after 52+ consecutive weeks of action, though sporadic protests occurred later.

Impact and Legacy
The Yellow Vests highlighted deep frustrations with economic inequality, cost of living, taxation burdens on the working/middle classes, and perceived elite disconnect. They influenced French politics by forcing policy reversals and exposing vulnerabilities in Macron’s presidency.

The movement inspired similar “yellow vest” or anti-austerity actions in other countries.
It left an “indelible mark” on French society, contributing to ongoing debates about social justice, democracy, and populism.

As of recent years (into the mid-2020s), the core movement has faded, but echoes appear in later protests (e.g., against pension reforms or other crises), with some comparing new blockades or citizen mobilizations to the 2018 spirit.

Overall, it was a populist, anti-establishment uprising driven by everyday people rather than traditional left/right structures, making it unique in French protest history since May 1968.

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