President of France suspends rise in fuel prices after several days of protests
The demonstrations last weekend in Paris and other cities in France have led French President Emmanuel Macron, to suspend, for six months, the tax on gas. French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe reported on Tuesday that the government will freeze the prices of electricity and light during the winter.
“I suspend the application of these fiscal measures for six months. (…) No tax deserves to jeopardize the unity of the Nation, “Philippe said in a televised statement. “You have to be deaf” to “not listen to the anger” of the French, he added. At first, both he and Macron had been reluctant to suspend the hike, quote Telesur.
In the Arc de Triomphe, Macron saw how graffiti was painted on him and there was damage to the offices of the monument, looted last Sunday. The destruction occurred during the weekend during the protests of the “yellow vests” in Paris and other cities in France against the rise in the price of diesel and the high cost of living, the BBC World recalled on Tuesday.
In search of a political solution to the crisis, on Monday Prime Minister Édouard Philippe met with the opposition parties while the protesters blocked fuel deposits of the Total oil company, which reported 75 unsupplied gas stations.
Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire reported that the protests affected shops, hotels and restaurants. Le Maire pointed out that the profits of the sector were affected between 15 and 50% and the hotel industry had a fall in room reservations of between 15 and 25%.
Since the demonstrations began two weeks ago, four people died in incidents of violence throughout the country, including an 80-year-old woman who was hit by a tear gas can while trying to close her window blinds. [Also several videos show evidence of police brutality against the protesters]
More than 100 people were injured in the French capital, including 23 members of the security forces, and about 400 people were arrested this weekend, police said.
Translated by JRE
