Posted on 01/06/2019 3:05:15 PM PST by aquila48
PARIS (Reuters) - Emmanuel Macron intended to start the new year on the offensive against the ‘yellow vest’ protesters. Instead, the French president is reeling from more violent street demonstrations.
What began as a grassroots rebellion against diesel taxes and the high cost of living has morphed into something more perilous for Macron - an assault on his presidency and French institutions.
The anti-government protesters on Saturday used a forklift truck to force their way into a government ministry compound, torched cars near the Champs Elysees and in one violent skirmish on a bridge over the Seine punched and kicked riot police officers to the ground.
The French authorities’ struggle to maintain order during the weekend protests raises questions not just over policing tactics but also over how Macron responds, as he prepares to bring in stricter rules for unemployment benefits and cut thousands of public sector jobs.
On Sunday evening, Macron wrote on Twitter: “Once again, the Republic was attacked with extreme violence - its guardians, its representatives, its symbols.”
His administration had hardened its stance against the yellow vests after the protest movement appeared to have lost momentum over the Christmas holidays.
The government would not relent in its pursuit of reforms to reshape the economy, government spokesman Benjamin Griveaux said on Friday, branding the remaining protesters agitators seeking to overthrow the government.
Twenty-four hours later, he was fleeing his office out of a back door as protesters invaded the courtyard and smashed up several cars. “It wasn’t me who was attacked,” he later said. “It was the Republic.”
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
“What in the world was he thinking?”
Like the Bourbons, Macro never learned anything and never forgot anything.
But to his credit, he has done one good thing (albeit unintentionally) so at least there is that.
He engaged the citizenry with European Union marked armored vehicles, which took the uprising EU wide and broadened the target of the people’s ire from one national government to the EU bureaucracy as a whole.
Why is it (do you think) that the powers in Europe kept pushing Angela Merkel back into power for decades when she brought them failure after embarrassment after boondoggle? It wasn't her statesmanship. It is the assets she retained after East Germany fell.
He tried the Racist, racist, rascist thing
Then he tried the Russian, Russian, Russian thing
Those narratives failed miserably.
After that, nobody will believe any of his propaganda any longer.
As long as people will believe that their socialist candidates if elected will not turn their country into a Cuba or Venezuela. The number of those candidates seems to be quite large.
You will LOVE this 1 min YouTube video:
https://twitter.com/V_of_Europe/status/1081880950513025024
Shows strong evidence Yellow Vests are FAR from being common hooligans, like AntiFa...
Nice find! Great clip.
——as he prepares to bring in stricter rules for unemployment benefits and cut thousands of public sector jobs.——
Apparently there is much more to it than gas taxes.
jean-michel blanquer better hope there is room on macroni's chopper.
Hmm...where have I heard that one before? Oh, yeah: "L'etat, c'est moi." Louis XIV, a fellow not noted for his people skills. Divine right of kings to rule, that was Lou. Reminds me of some Democrats I could name.
perhaps the trajectory is eventual Frexit. That would be the death knell for EU as countries are destroyed from German instigated muslim invasion.
Twenty-four hours later, he was fleeing his office out of a back door as protesters invaded the courtyard and smashed up several cars. “It wasn’t me who was attacked,” he later said. “It was the Republic.”
Ah, yes, the old wrapping oneself in the flag trick.
Looks more like the TEA party than antifa.
Great link, thanks.
“Le Etate c’est Moi!”
(Pardon my French!)
Why would he resign? He’s not a Prime Minister. There is no way for these protesters to remove him, save the guillotine.
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