Hundreds of demonstrators faced police in a tense stand-off in the French city of Nantes on Saturday as revived “yellow vest” protests against the government of President Emmanuel Macron took place across the country.
Police responded with tear gas after some protesters threw projectiles. A spokesman with the local prefecture said 21 people had been arrested.
Television footage showed groups of black-clad protesters trying to break into shops, while police trucks carrying water cannon were seen arriving on scene.
Get breaking National news
The Gilets Jaunes (yellow vest) protests, named after motorists’ high-visibility jackets, began over fuel tax increases but morphed into a sometimes violent revolt against Macron and a government they see as out of touch.
WATCH: ‘Yellow Vest’ protesters clash with police on Bastille Day (July, 2019)
- Celine Dion returns to the stage after 6 years at Paris residency: ‘I missed this’
- Trump calls on Ukraine to stop strikes on Russian diesel citing global shortage
- At least 129 missing, 6 dead after ferry overturns in Indonesia’s Java sea
- Turkish authorities launch crackdown on LGBTQ+, HIV support groups
The president has sought to ease tensions with $18.82 billion of countermeasures to boost the monthly minimum wage, remove some taxes, and offer relief to poor retirees. But he faces a new round of anger with a long-awaited reform that seeks to merge France’s 42 different pension systems into a single points-based system.
Parisian commuters faced travel misery on Friday as metro workers went on strike over plans to reduce their retirement privileges.
Comments
Want to discuss? Please read our Commenting Policy first.