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French President Emmanuel Macron is attending a conference at UCL University in Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium, on Tuesday, November 20, 2018. French President Emmanuel Macron and French First Lady Brigitte Macron concluded a visit on Tuesday. State of two days Belgium. (Yves Herman, Photo of the pool via AP) lessFrench President Emmanuel Macron is attending a conference at UCL University in Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium, on Tuesday, November 20, 2018. French President Emmanuel Macron and French First Lady Brigitte Macron … more
Photo: Yves Herman, AP
Photo: Yves Herman, AP
PARIS (AP) – French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday criticized fuel tax increases that sparked national protests, but called for a "dialogue" to ease tensions.
In his first comments on the protests since more than a quarter of a million French drivers blocked roads on Saturday, Macron acknowledged that it was "normal" for people to express their frustration.
He said that he was trying to "change the habits" by removing the French fossil fuels, "which is never simple". He reiterated the promises of low-income household subsidies for them to buy cleaner cars or opt for cleaner heating methods.
He did not comment on the violence of protest. A protester was killed in a road accident Saturday and hundreds of people were injured.
Scattered demonstrations continued on Tuesday on French roads by drivers who call themselves "yellow jackets" for the neon vests they wear during road emergencies.
Macron, whose popularity is down, spoke at a university debate in Belgium, where student protesters unfurled a banner and threw papers into the auditorium. A protester shouted about the protection of migrants and police violence against demonstrations.
