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French President Emmanuel Macron has attacked protesters who clashed with police in Paris during the latest protests sparked by rising gas prices.
"Shame on those who attacked" officers, he tweeted. "There is no room for violence in the [French] Republic."
Saturday, the Champs-Elysees have experienced chaos. Police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse protesters.
The movement "yellow vest" qualified the events of "act two" in a campaign that began a week ago.
Named after their distinctly high-visibility dress, the protests initially focused on increasing taxes on diesel fuel.
They then grew to reflect anger at the rising cost of living, especially in rural areas, as well as other grievances against President Macron's policies.
More than 100,000 people took part in about 1,600 protests in France on Saturday, the Interior Ministry said. Most took place peacefully – except in the capital, where 8,000 protesters gathered.
What happened on the Champs-Élysées?
Five thousand policemen had been deployed in Paris. They had installed metal barriers around the Champs-Élysées to prevent protesters from reaching key buildings such as the president's office and the National Assembly.
A spokesman for the protesters insisted that they were peaceful. "We are not here to fight the cops, we just want the government to listen to us," Laetitia Dewalle told the AFP news agency.
But in the morning, some tried to break the police cordon. They lit fires, destroyed road signs, erected barricades, ripped off cobblestones and threw them at the police while chanting slogans against Mr. Macron.
The chaos continued in the evening, when the police cleared most of the area.
Copyright of the image
AFP
Protesters gathered on the Champs-Elysees to demand the resignation of Mr. Macron
According to officials, 19 people were wounded in the clashes, including four officers. Forty people were arrested.
What about troubles elsewhere in France?
Events were organized in the country. Roadblocks have been put in place to slow down traffic. Some motorway tolls have been installed to let vehicles pass.
There were several minor clashes. In total, 130 arrests were made.
The demonstrations and the violence were much less important than the previous week. Last Saturday, more than 280,000 people participated, two people were killed and more than 600 wounded.
Copyright of the image
Reuters
The barricades were still burning in the evening
How did Macron and his government react?
In his tweet, the president congratulated the security forces for "their courage and professionalism".
He added, "Shame on those who attacked them, shame on those who attacked other citizens and journalists."
French media reported that several reporters were attacked in the southern cities of Toulouse and Beziers.
Interior Minister Christophe Castaner accused protesters of being influenced by the leader of the far-right National Rally party, Marine Le Pen. But she accused him, on Twitter, of dishonesty.
Why drivers on the warpath?
The price of diesel, the most commonly used fuel in French cars, has risen by about 23% over the last 12 months to reach an average of € 1.51 (£ 1.32) per liter, its highest level since the early 2000s, according to AFP. .
World oil prices rose before falling back, but the Macron government increased its hydrocarbon tax this year by 7.6 cents per liter on diesel and 3.9 cents on gasoline, under the A campaign for cleaner cars and fuels.
The decision to impose a further increase of 6.5 cents on diesel and 2.9 cents on gasoline on January 1, 2019 was considered the drop of water.
The president attributed three-quarters of the rise in world oil prices. He also said that more taxes on fossil fuels were needed to finance investments in renewable energy.
Not just fuel
Analysis of Lucy Williamson, BBC News, Paris
The spark of the demonstration is obvious, but there is not much that unites the "yellow vests" beyond their conspicuous equipment and their anger at the rising taxes and the Cost of life.
In a country where demonstrations are often tightly managed by a political party or union, it is a movement without a recognized national leader, without formal structure or affiliation, which unites voters of all ages, the far left on the far right. even those who have already supported President Macron.
Their new cooperation is a sign that Mr Macron has failed to restore the confidence of politicians and that deep divisions remain. These are not the most marginalized citizens of France, but those who claim to fight even while working, who feel they bear the burden of France's economic problems, while businesses and the rich benefit from relief. tax.
The government has accused right-wing gangs of being at the root of violence in Paris, but many peaceful citizens – both on barricades and at home – also support the movement. .
Its diversity and democracy have been its strength up to now, but also make its ultimate vision and hard-to-control members difficult.
Why wear yellow vests?
All drivers in France must wear the jackets in their cars as safety equipment for use in case of breakdown.
With the well-known red reflective triangle that must be placed behind a broken down vehicle on the edge of a road, the high visibility vest – or "yellow vest" – must be worn by the driver outside of the vehicle. the car.
Failure to wear the jacket after a breakdown or accident can result in a fine of € 135 (£ 120, $ 153) under a law passed in 2008.
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