The widespread protests sweeping Paris escalated Monday as first responders and students joined the massive demonstrations against gasoline shortages and a lack of fuel throughout the country.
“Anti-government protesters gained new allies Monday as French paramedics and students joined ongoing rallies while the prime minister met with political rivals in a bid to ease the anger following riots that rocked Paris,” writes the Associated Press.
Paris – Blocage surprise de plusieurs centaines d’ambulances devant l’Assemblée Nationale et sur la place de la Concorde. pic.twitter.com/VaVXp5Fe04
— Remy Buisine (@RemyBuisine) December 3, 2018
“On Saturday, more than 130 people were injured and 412 arrested in the French capital amid one of the worst waves of unrest in the country in recent years. Police responded with tear gas and water cannons, closing down dozens of streets and subway stations to contain the riot,” adds the AP.
The “Yellow Vest” movement -named after the bright jackets worn by emergency workers and construction crews across France- rocked Paris over the weekend; injuring more than 100 and leading to the arrests of 400 individuals.
Read the full story at the Associated Press.
PARIS BURNING: France Sees Worst Riots in 50 YEARS as Gas Supplies Dwindle
Paris saw its worst riots in 50 years over the weekend as gas stations ran dry during the country’s escalating oil shortage; leaving more than one hundred injured and graffiti covering the iconic city’s famed landmarks.
According to the Daily Mail, Graffiti was removed from the Arc de Triomphe Monday after the weekend’s violent clashes between “yellow vest” protesters and police.
The demonstrators “occupied” central Paris to highlight the growing fuel shortage with hundreds of gas stations completely out of oil.
“The French President – who faced calls to resign from protesters who scrawled anti-Macron slogans on the Arc de Triomphe – today vowed to bring the rioters to justice as he inspected wreckage on the Champs-Elysees,” writes the Daily Mail.
“The ‘yellow vest’ protests, which began as a rebellion against a fuel tax hike but have expanded into weeks of civil unrest, spread across the country yesterday and ended with 133 people injured, including 23 police officers, and 412 arrested last night,” adds the author.
Read the full report here.
MACRON’S MESS: French President’s Approval PLUNGES to 26% in New Polls
French President Emmanuel Macron’s approval rating plunged in recent polling; raising serious questions over the leader’s political future after a series of mass protests against high unemployment and rising gas prices.
According to Politico, the new survey has Macron at a dismal 26% approval rating among the French people; the lowest levels seen at similar times for his predecessors.
“The survey by pollster BVA found only 26 percent of French people have a favorable opinion of Macron. That’s a drop of three points from last month, putting Macron’s rating 19 months into his presidency below those of his immediate predecessor François Hollande (48 percent) and ex-President Nicolas Sarkozy (29 percent) at the same stage of their terms of office,” writes Politico.
“We have received the message from the citizens. It invites us to go further. In order for the ecological transition, which is necessary, not to be socially unacceptable, it must be fair, equitable and democratic. We must therefore mobilize all those who will make it acceptable, so as not to leave anyone behind,” said a statement from Macron’s advisors late last week.
Read the full survey here.