“Once again, extreme violence has come to attack the Republic-its guardians, its representatives, its symbols. Those who commit these acts forget the heart of our civic pact. Justice will be done. Everyone has to come together to bring about the debate and dialogue” said French President Emmanuel Macron after the renewed violence took place in different parts of the country.
WEB DESK
Fresh violence erupted on the streets in many cities of France this afternoon as Yellow Vest protesters set fires and clashed with police. French demonstrators marched through the capital and other cities on Saturday in protest against high living costs.
In Paris, protests began peacefully but turned chaotic in the afternoon as protesters hurled missiles at riot police barricading bridges over the Seine river.
The atmosphere mostly was calm, but turned when some protesters tried to cross the river on a pedestrian bridge not on the official route from City Hall to the National Assembly, the lower house of parliament. Police used clubs and tear gas, then held the bridge in a standoff while violence broke out.
The “yellow vest” movement was launched to express anger over fuel tax hikes hurting working people who commute by car but grew to encompass broader anger over Macron’s economic policies, deemed to favour the rich. It’s named after the fluorescent protective gear French motorists must keep in their cars
Une fois encore, une extrême violence est venue attaquer la République – ses gardiens, ses représentants, ses symboles. Ceux qui commettent ces actes oublient le cœur de notre pacte civique. Justice sera faite. Chacun doit se ressaisir pour faire advenir le débat et le dialogue.
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) January 5, 2019
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