One killed, 130 injured and hundreds arrested in French fuel tax protests - 12/4: Fuel Tax Rescinded!

[rafter]

France uses only virgin cold-pressed diesel.

[cleobc]

Here's the key: "...more tax on fossil fuels was needed to fund renewable energy investments."

[mzkitty]

Voice of Europe
🌐 Retweeted
Voice of Europe
🌐
‏ @V_of_Europe
6h6 hours ago

Massive protests against Macron's fuel tax continue in France. This is Paris.

[Red Baron]

https://video.foxnews.com/v/59710563...#sp=show-clips this is just a video

Always post the runtime on a video if it is not live.

[mzkitty]

Polish, but I'm sure you get it:


Brat Wodza
🇵🇱
💯
‏ @BratWodza
2m2 minutes ago
Replying to @MarzenaPaczuska

Europa dwóch prędkości #Warszawa #Paris

[Red Baron]

Live now,

Paris continue de brûler #ChampsElysees #24Novembre #GiletsJaunes #YellowVests



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5ubj1UtUu8

[mzkitty]

Wow, they sprayed shit on a government building, hahaha..........



Translate:

Французы и мастерство протеста. Протестующие против повышения цен на топливо залили фекалиями здание центрального муниципалитета в Париже

French and protest mastery. Protesters against rising fuel prices have feces poured the central municipality building in Paris


Scroll down a few to the little video, the people are cheering and laughing:

https://twitter.com/russiaspeaks

[Red Baron]

France uses only virgin cold-pressed diesel.

Infused with garlic?

[mzkitty]

Veganer Metzger
‏ @antiput55
2m2 minutes ago

Veganer Metzger Retweeted EHA News

Like civil war in #Paris #France


EHA News
‏ @eha_news
51m51 minutes ago

🔴The #GiletsJaunes demonstrations in #France continue...

The fighting between protestors and police in #Paris is getting even stronger

Little video here:

https://twitter.com/eha_news

[AlfaMan]

A 23% tax on diesel? Think I'd want to riot too. Today it's $1.48 Euros per LITRE. Three litres make a gallon, so....

Probably Macron is trying to do his part to meet Euro 6 diesel emissions standards by doing this. Many of the cars on French roads are diesel, their gas prices are among the highest in Europe. And the diesels on the roads aren't the newest either (they don't use DEF or have exhaust scrubbers). He's trying to push people into buying newer cars from what it sounds like.

With Nissan/Renault/Mitsubishi's CEO getting locked up this week for using those companies as his private piggy bank , Macron's timing is BAD.

[raven]

Well, it is quite well know that the French are the most civilized.
Their language has become the standard for surrender and other diplomatic communications for centuries

[Profit of Doom]

A 23% tax on diesel? Think I'd want to riot too. Today it's $1.48 Euros per LITRE. Three litres make a gallon, so....

Probably Macron is trying to do his part to meet Euro 6 diesel emissions standards by doing this. Many of the cars on French roads are diesel, their gas prices are among the highest in Europe. And the diesels on the roads aren't the newest either (they don't use DEF or have exhaust scrubbers). He's trying to push people into buying newer cars from what it sounds like.

With Nissan/Renault/Mitsubishi's CEO getting locked up this week for using those companies as his private piggy bank , Macron's timing is BAD.

3.785. I just think of a litre as a quart if I just want the concept, like yards and meters (~1.1 yards/meter)

[Profit of Doom]

almost sounds like its olive oil,

never heard anything of diesel being cold pressed, even the bio diesel bunch I used to know , never did such games,

anyone care to fill me in, got my curiosity up,

Virgin olive oil comes from ugly olives, much like virgin wool from ugly sheep.

[northern watch]

French protesters angry over fuel taxes clash with police
By Thomas Adamson, Associated Press
PARIS — November 24, 2018, 1:54 PM ET

French police fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse violent demonstrators in Paris on Saturday, as thousands gathered in the capital and beyond and staged road blockades to vent anger against rising fuel taxes.

Thousands of police were deployed nationwide to contain the eighth day of deadly demonstrations that started as protests against tax but morphed into a rebuke of President Emmanuel Macron and the perceived elitism of France's ruling class. Two people have been killed since November 17 in protest-related tragedies.

Tense clashes on the Champs-Elysees that ended by dusk Saturday saw police face off with demonstrators who burned plywood, wielded placards reading "Death to Taxes" and upturned a large vehicle.

At least 19 people, including four police officers, were slightly hurt and one person had more serious injuries in the day of unrest in Paris, according to police.

Macron responded in a strongly worded tweet: "Shame on those who attacked (police). Shame on those who were violent against other citizens ... No place for this violence in the Republic."

Police said that dozens of protesters were detained for "throwing projectiles," among other acts. By nightfall the Champs-Elysees was smoldering and in the Place de la Madeleine, burned scooters lay on the sidewalk like blackened shells.

"It's going to trigger a civil war and me, like most other citizens, we're all ready," said Benjamin Vrignaud, a 21-year-old protester from Chartres.

"They take everything from us. They steal everything from us," said 21-year-old Laura Cordonnier.

The famed avenue was speckled with plumes of smoke and neon — owing to the color of the vests the self-styled "yellow jacket" protesters don. French drivers are required to keep neon security vests in their vehicles.

Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said that 8,000 protesters flooded the Champs-Elysees at the demonstration's peak and there were nearly 106,000 protesters and 130 arrests in total nationwide.

Castaner denounced protesters from the far-right whom he called "rebellious," as he accused National Assembly leader Marine Le Pen of encouraging them.

But the Interior Ministry played down the scale of Saturday's demonstrations by highlighting that up to 280,000 people took part in last Saturday's protest.

The unrest is proving a major challenge for embattled Macron, who's suffering in the polls.

The leader, who swept to power only last year, is the focus of rage for the "yellow jacket" demonstrators who accuse the pro-business centrist of elitism and indifference to the struggles of ordinary French.

Macron has so far held strong and insisted the fuel tax rises are a necessary pain to reduce France's dependence on fossil fuels and fund renewable energy investments — a cornerstone of his reforms of the nation. He will defend fresh plans to make the "energy transition" easier next week.

Paris deployed some 3,000 security forces on Saturday, notably around tourist-frequented areas, after an unauthorized attempt last week to march on the presidential Elysee Palace.

Police officials said that a no-go zone, set up around key areas including the presidential palace and the National Assembly on the Left Bank of the Seine River, has not been breached.

But authorities are struggling because the movement has no clear leader and has attracted a motley group of people with broadly varying demands.

The anger is mainly over a hike in the diesel fuel tax, which has gone up seven euro cents per liter (nearly 30 U.S. cents per gallon) and will keep climbing in coming years, according to Transport Minister Elisabeth Borne. The tax on gasoline is also to increase four euro cents. Gasoline currently costs about 1.64 euros a liter in Paris ($7.06 a gallon), slightly more than diesel.

Far left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon explained to BFMTV the historical importance of this issue in the Gallic mindset: "When tax is no longer agreed to, it's the start of revolutions in France."

———
Chris Den Hond and Patrick Hermensen contributed to this report.

https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wire...olice-59388807

[tanstaafl]

Apparently France imports something like 99% of all its oil, so it's not like they can ramp up domestic production to bring the price down. I found this on a search but didn't read it since the excerpt pretty much speaks for itself:

France passes law to ban all oil and gas production by 2040
Dec 19, 2017 ... However, it is largely symbolic since oil and gas produced in France accounts for just 1% of domestic consumption. The rest is imported.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/money...040/966132001/

[bw]

never heard anything of diesel being cold pressed, even the bio diesel bunch I used to know , never did such games, anyone care to fill me in, got my curiosity up,

It was humor.

[Used Camels]

My sister, brother in law, and two young nephews are in Paris for the holiday weekend. They just posted their videos from the middle of the protests on their FB pages.

They said they had to run and were let into a restaurant that then locked the doors behind them ... said it was a frightening experience.

The video showed they were in indeed right in the middle of it, everywhere they turned there were folks in yellow vests, fires and smoke, and the sounds of shots that I assume were tear gas grenades.

Quite a special memory for the kids.

[mzkitty]

The cops bashed quite a few people:

[Dennis Olson]

My math puts it at about $6.50 a gallon now. That takes all the fun out of going for a drive, but at least they get "free" healthcare.

Mitigating the cost is the fact that many European cars get 50 mpg or more. Further, required travel distances there are minuscule compared to the US.

[pirate]

Thought you'd like a few pictures. It's night now:


Eric Matheny
❌
‏ @EricMMatheny
22s23 seconds ago

If this isn’t an argument for #Nationalism then I don’t know what is.

Macron must tax his own people to satisfy the requirements of the Paris Climate Accord.

Globalism isn’t collective strength. It’s a mess of individual failures.

#Paris #Saturday

well said sorta like evrything goes to shit when good people do nothing

[petedtom]

Well, it is quite well know that the French are the most civilized.
Their language has become the standard for surrender and other diplomatic communications for centuries

True but it looks like they are at least taking a stand against an out of control Govt. Something we "Home of the Brave" folks have not done. We are more than happy to allow shit to continue .

[Housecarl]

Hummm…..

So by the French government's own numbers they've had a million people protesting throughout the country. In their last presidential election in 2017 there were 47 million people eligible to vote, with 45.7 million in mainland France and the rest either expats or living in French overseas territories.

[Used Camels]

Interesting additional tidbit from my sister ... the four of them had to sneak out the back door of the restaurant they were locked in, run down a small alley to the River Seine where they hired a small boat to take them down river to their hotel.

[NoMoreLibs]

Annnddddd.....how many of these protesters voted for Macorroni?

[tanstaafl]

Of course you have to take into consideration that in France you could probably start a protest (with firebombs) just because the weather changed. It's their version of "participatory democracy."

[northern watch]

Paris on fire as massive protests against beleaguered President Macron and his new fuel tax continue

By Paul Dijks
Voice of Europe
24 November 2018

A second weekend of protests against President Macron’s rising taxes in Paris were met with teargas dispersed using a water canon on Saturday.

There is no indication of the protests ending, in fact, they had already spread to Belgium. The protesters descended upon the famed Champs-Elysées avenue where police were deployed to prevent them from reaching the Elysée presidential palace.

The protests have lasted more than a week, protesters wearing the fluorescent yellow or ‘Hi Vis’ jackets that are compulsory for all motorists in France to have in their cars.

They’ve blocked highways across France (and Belgium) with barricades and convoys of slow lorries obstructing access to fuel depots, shopping centres and factories.

Protesters sang the national anthem and carried signs calling for the resignation of President Emanuel Macron as they are opposed to the taxes Macron’s government has imposed on diesel, the most commonly used fuel in France by far, claimed to be part of an effort to fight climate change.

The protests are problematic for Macron, who tries to position himself as a champion against climate change. City officials have said that around 3,000 police officers in Paris were deployed on Saturday.

Besides the ‘yellow vest’ protests, there was a demonstration against violence towards women and a football rugby match all scheduled for Saturday.

More than 36,000 people said on Facebook that they would attend a protest at the capital’s Place de la Concorde. According the France’s Interior Ministry, two have died and 606 have been injured in the protests.


https://voiceofeurope.com/2018/11/pa...-tax-continue/

[Used Camels]

I've been reading that the authorities are fearful that extreme left wing and/or right wing activists might join in and take this up another notch.

So at this point, this is a reaction by the population with no real leaders ... protesting unfair taxation ... kind of a Paris Tea Party.

[Used Camels]

When the French people want to remind those in power that they are their representatives not their masters ... They have a few powerful symbols.

[Millwright]

The Frogs have a serious mess going on with this situation. It really hasn't stopped since the OP was posted.



The Latest: 65 injured, 140 arrested in Paris protests


PARIS (AP) — The Latest on French protests against rising taxes (all times local):

3:50 p.m.

Paris police say that at least 65 people including 11 police officers have been injured in violent protests in the French capital. Police also say that 140 people have been arrested.
Current Time 0:08
/
Duration 1:37
Police disperse ‘yellow vest’ Paris protesters with teargas

Paris police spokeswoman Johanna Primevert gave the updated figures Saturday afternoon.

Some protesters in France have set cars and trash cans on fire in central Paris after police pushed them away from the Arc de Triomphe monument following violent clashes.

Sporadic scuffles with police were breaking out Saturday afternoon in Paris city center as some protesters tried to build makeshift barricades using plywood planks and other material.

Meanwhile, other protesters, called “yellow jackets” because of the fluorescent vests they wear, were marching peacefully elsewhere in Paris.

___

3:35 p.m.

Dutch police have closed off the parliamentary complex in The Hague after about 100 yellow jacket protesters gathered outside.

As the gas price protest that began in France last month spread to another country, Dutch demonstrators on Saturday gathered outside the historic parliamentary buildings to protest government policies.

After the demonstrators initially refused police efforts to move them to a nearby park, officers blocked the archway leading into the parliament.

As some of the protesters melted away, police on horseback and in vans later shepherded the remaining yellow jackets away from Parliament.

Dutch media reported that two protesters were detained by police in The Hague and that another protest leader was detained in the southern city of Maastricht. Police in The Hague did not immediately return a call seeking confirmation.

___

1:45 p.m.

France’s prime minister says that some protesters have attacked police officers in rarely seen violence in central Paris, leading to the arrest of at least 107 people.

Edouard Philippe has told reporters at Paris police headquarters that authorities counted more than 5,000 protesters on and around the Champs-Elysees avenue.

He said “some determined, equipped individuals” gathered Saturday morning to “provoke” clashes with police. At least 10 officers were slightly injured.

He added that he was “shocked” by violence near the Arc de Triomphe and graffiti sprayed onto the monument, a symbol of the country with the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from World War I.

He said that authorities are “determined to allow peaceful protests” and will give “no excuse to those coming to make trouble.”

___

12:50 p.m.

A few dozen protesters have symbolically gathered under the Arc de Triomphe in Paris to sing France’s national anthem as others clashed with police near the famous monument at the top of the Champs-Elysees avenue.

The protesters, called “yellow jackets” for the fluorescent vests they wear, removed barriers protecting the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from World War I to pose near its eternal flame, just under the Arc.

The words “yellow jackets will triumph” have been written in big black letters at the base of the monument.

Other protesters nearby deployed a banner addressing the French president: “Macron, stop taking us for stupid people.”

___

12:10 p.m.

Paris police say at least 63 people have been arrested in violent clashes between protesters and police amid nationwide demonstrations against rising taxes and President Emmanuel Macron’s policies.

Paris police spokeswoman Johanna Primevert has told French news broadcaster BFM TV that 10 police officers have been slightly injured.

French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner tweeted that “1,500 troublemakers” are around the Champs-Elysees and near the Arc de Triomphe monument.

Meanwhile, hundreds of peaceful protesters were present on the famed avenue inside a perimeter secured by police through identity checks and bag inspections.

___

11:30 a.m.

French police have fired tear gas to try to disperse a large group of “yellow jacket” protesters gathered in front of the Arc de Triomphe.

A big cloud of tear gas partially cloaked the famed monument as riot officers closed in to try to push back the demonstrators.

But protesters responded by throwing large rocks, and the officers retreated to cheers from the crowd.

The demonstrators are angry about rising taxes and French President Emmanuel Macron’s leadership. The protests began on Nov. 17.

___

11:05 a.m.

Scuffles have broken out between some French protesters angry over rising taxes and police for a third straight weekend, after small pockets of demonstrators built barricades in the middle of streets in central Paris and lit fires.

Thousands of police were deployed to try to contain the protests on and around the famed Champs-Elysees avenue.

Most of the protesters, called “yellow jackets” for the fluorescent vests they wear, were peaceful. But others mixed in with them wore black hoodies and piled up construction materials, including large plywood planks, in the middle of a street near the Arc de Triomphe, and set the rubble on fire.

Police responded by firing bursts from a water cannon with backup from riot officers, who used tear gas on the protesters.

___

10:05 a.m.

French authorities have deployed thousands of police on Paris’ Champs-Elysees avenue to try to contain protests by people angry over rising taxes and President Emmanuel Macron’s government.

The so-called yellow jackets have called for new demonstrations and road blockades Saturday across France, including the capital, where a demonstration last weekend turned violent.

Hundreds of people gathered at the top of the Champs-Elysees on Saturday morning. Access to the avenue was closed to cars and strictly monitored by police with identity checks and bag inspections.

Police briefly used tear gas to disperse the crowd as some tried to force their way through.

The protests, which began with motorists demonstrating against a fuel tax hike, now involve a broad range of demands related to the country’s high cost of living.

https://www.breitbart.com/news/the-l...aris-protests/

[Red Baron]

Oops!

One missing rifle sure causing a big reaction.

How exactly does one "lockdown" a city as big as Paris?
---------
Breaking News Crime&Terrorism Alerts
‏
@BreakingNewsTA
20 minutes ago

#BREAKING Paris on lockdown after rioting protestors steal assault rifle from a police vehicle.

[Millwright]

Oops!

How exactly does one "lockdown" a city as big as Paris?
---------
Breaking News Crime&Terrorism Alerts
‏
@BreakingNewsTA
20 minutes ago

#BREAKING Paris on lockdown after rioting protestors steal assault rifle from a police vehicle.

Yeah, but was there any ammo with it?

[Red Baron]

IntelScout
‏
@recon_officer
12 minutes ago

IntelScout Retweeted Sotiri Dimpinoudis
#BREAKING French police is asking journalists to stop broadcasting the situation in France as they will use heavy force to clear the streets any moment now.


Sotiri Dimpinoudis
‏@sotiridi
Follow
Follow @sotiridi

More
#Breaking: French State police have arrived in #Paris! and are saying leave the streets now or we will use heavy force, this is you're last warnings. #GiletsJaunes #YellowVests

[Red Baron]

Yeah, but was there any ammo with it?

Good question!

[Red Baron]

Live coverage (in English) from France.

It is not yet clear if French media is going to honor the police's ban on live news coverage.

FRANCE 24 Live – International Breaking News & Top stories - 24/7 stream



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J78SdCzzumA

Very active scene,

[Red Baron]

RT (Russia Today) live coverage, raw feed.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obMM00CCKSY

Getting wild,

[Millwright]

This has been building for several days now.

Several articles at Breitbart and RT.

I've been watching the progression, waiting for things to reach critical mass.


Methinks it is about to get really sporty in France.

I also some something about protest sprouting in Brussels.


https://www.breitbart.com/europe/201...ce-high-taxes/

[Red Baron]

BNL NEWS
‏
@BreakingNLive
4 minutes ago

More
BREAKING: Cars, buildings on fire throughout Paris. #YellowVests protesters are blocking streets, looting museums, shops and restaurant. Dozens injured and arrested. Police say riots are out of control.

[Millwright]

Breitbart is running a page with frequent updates, here

https://www.breitbart.com/europe/201...urity-cordons/


IMO, there is a possibility for populist pisstivity to spread throughout the EU.

Dutch media reported that two protesters were detained by police in The Hague and that another protest leader was detained in the southern city of Maastricht. Police in The Hague did not immediately return a call seeking confirmation.

[Red Baron]

IntelScout

@recon_officer
2 minutes ago

More
IntelScout Retweeted Sotiri Dimpinoudis
#BREAKING Reports claim that more parts of Paris are being set on fire while police is retaking the #ChampsÉlysées https://twitter.com/sotiridi/status/...396037633?s=19 … #Paris #YellowVests

[Marthanoir]

Yeah, but was there any ammo with it?

The French cops use the Mini14, plenty of .223 around, a lot of the French farmers who are rioting will have .223 bolt guns for shooting foxes