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The French government of Emmanuel Macron announced Tuesday (4) the suspension of several fiscal measures to try to get out of the crisis caused by the protests of "yellow vests", which resulted in violent clashes, but considered insufficient
Excited by a crisis that reached its peak on Saturday, the executive made some concessions, hoping that they would be enough to appease the anger of the protesters who have shaken the country for three weeks.
The Prime Minister, Edouard Philippe, was in charge of announcing the three measures with which the government hopes to "restore peace and serenity in the country".
The plan was approved Monday night during a crisis meeting with Macron, includes a six-month suspension of the fuel tax hike, freezing of electricity and gas charges during the winter and the abandonment of the hardening plan
These measures will result in a loss of 2 billion euros for public coffers, which corresponds to 0.1 percentage point of GDP. Despite the fact that the movement of "yellow jackets" had a severe impact on the economy in just a few weeks
Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said that the government "will maintain its goal of reducing Public Debt "
– Boos and Cries of" Forgiveness & # 39; –
The increase in fuel taxes, which would come into effect on January 1, was the trigger for the so-called yellow vest events, born in the middle of
"No taxes should put endangering the unity of the nation, "said Edouard Philippe, who urged the group, which called for new protests Saturday, to express" his calm ".
The fuel tax increase will not be implemented "until all concerned parties have discussed it," said Philippe, who had announced a national deal between December 15 and March 1 "[19659004] "If we do not find them, we will draw conclusions," he added, hinting that the government could simply drop the rate.
Macron has remained silent since
Tuesday , he received a member of the "yellow jackets" at the Elysee and then visited the burned sites of the city of Le Puy-en-Velay, in the east, according to images of the local newspaper Le Progrès, at his departure, he was booed by the crowd shouting "Renounce!"
The popularity of the youngest president in the history of France, 40 years old, reached minimum levels.
– " We do not want crumbs "-
This is the first time Macron recedes from the street pressure. these concessions may not be enough to calm the French, who express a general weariness in their tax and social policy.
Although a group of protesters suspended the blockade of a fuel depot in Brest (West) after
"The French do not want to mix," AFP told AFP Benjamin Cauchy, one of the "yellow vests", who have expanded their claims. They require, among other things, the increase of the minimum wage and of retirement.
The opposition maintained the same course of action. "Too little and too late," said Damien Abad, vice president of the conservative Republican party.
– New manifestations?
Two football matches, PSG-Montpellier and Toulouse-Lyon, scheduled for Saturday, were postponed to Saturday,
Éric Drouet, one of the most prominent spokesmen for "vests yellow ", asked the French to" return to Paris "Saturday and gather" near the places of power, avenue des Champs-Elysees,
"People are more and more motivated, organize, we will still be more numerous, "he told AFP.
" The dynamic of the movement is such that it is not certain that the announced measures can stop it " said Jerome Sainte-Marie, a political scientist to researcher PollingVox.
Interior Minister Christophe Castaner announced that he would send other forces on Saturday, opposition felt that mobilization had been minimized on weekends latest.
The government also fears the extension of protests to other sectors. On Tuesday, there were high school student protests. In Marseille, 10 establishments were blocked.
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