French police fire tear gas at ‘yellow vest’ protesters in Paris

French police have fired tear gas, stun grenades and water cannon to disperse “yellow-vest” protesters trying to breach security cordons on the Champs Elysees avenue in Paris. 

The clashes on Saturday broke out soon after hundreds of demonstrators wearing the high-visibility yellow vests, which have become the symbol of the protest against President Emmanuel Macron, began gathering near the Arc de Triomphe for a third rally against diesel tax hikes and the high cost of living.

Christophe Castaner, the interior minister, said at least 39 people were arrested. 

“200 peaceful demonstrators on the Champs Elysees. 1,500 agitators outside the security perimeter who came to fight,” he said in a Twitter post.

The famed avenue itself was on lockdown, its glittering Christmas decorations standing in stark contrast to boarded-up storefronts and throngs of riot police manning barricades and water cannon.

Banks, wine shops and cafes on surrounding streets were also racing to cover up windows as the acrid odor of tear gas and burning trash containers filled the air.  

Several protesters wore face masks, while others carried gas masks or ski goggles.

Officials said they expected some 5,000 police and gendarmes in Paris amid concern that violent far-right and far-left groups were infiltrating the “yellow-vest” movement.

Another 5,000 will be deployed across France for other protests.

“We’re worried that small groups of rioters that aren’t yellow vests will infiltrate to fight security forces and challenge the authority of the state,” said Denis Jacob, Secretary General of the Alternative Police union.

“Given the high level of security around the Champs the fear is thugs will go to other places.”

Castaner, the interior minister, said on Thursday that “far-left and far-right activists” were preparing for clashes with the police during Saturday’s protests. 

Yellow-vests

A week ago thousands of protesters, who have no leader and have largely organised themselves online, converged on Paris for the first time, turning the Champs Elysees into a battle zone as they clashed with police firing tear gas and water cannon.

The first day of protests, on November 17, attracted around 282,000 people, while some 106,000 turned out last Saturday, including 8,000 in the capital.

The protests include many pensioners and has been most active in small urban and rural areas where it has blocked roads, closed motorway toll booths, and even walled up the entrance to tax offices.

Two people have died and hundreds have been injured in the protests which opinion polls suggest still attract the support of two out of three French people.

Attempts by the government to negotiate with the movement have failed, in large part because representatives have insisted on public talks broadcast on TV.

Macron has sought to douse the anger by promising three months of nationwide talks on how best to transform France into a low-carbon economy without penalising the poor.

He also vowed to slow the rate of increase in fuel taxes if international oil prices rise too rapidly but only after a tax hike due in January.

But many protesters were unconvinced by Macron’s speech on Tuesday.

The anger has reached French overseas territories, especially on the Indian Ocean island of Reunion. 

The minister for overseas territories, Annick Girardin, who was dispatched to the island to talk to protesters, was forced to cut short a meeting Friday with demonstrators after they booed her and shouted “Macron, resign!”

The movement has spilled across to neighbouring Belgium, where riot police used water cannon Friday to disperse stone-throwing “yellow vest” protesters who burned two police vehicles in the centre of Brussels.