The demonstrations come days before President Emmanuel Macron launches a national debate intended to dispel the anger exposed by the protests
Tens of thousands of France’s Yellow Vest protesters rallied around the country again on Saturday as the movement tries to rebuild momentum after declining turnouts in recent weeks and as public support wanes.
The ninth weekend of demonstrations came days before President Emmanuel Macron launches a national debate intended to dispel the anger exposed by the recent violent protests, without derailing the reforms he insists France needs.
About 8,000 people participated in Paris and 84,000 rallied elsewhere in the country on Saturday, Agence France Presse reported, citing figures from the Interior Ministry. Last week, the Interior Ministry estimated 50,000 protesters nationwide at the end of the day.
Even though turnout at recent protests had declined, police braced for more demonstrators and more violence this Saturday. The government mobilized 5,000 police officers in the capital and 80,000 nationwide. Various streets near government buildings in central Paris were closed off, and police searched people on roads and trains heading to the capital.
Visiting the western French city of Rouen early Saturday, junior Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said police would have zero tolerance for violence.
“If there are excesses here, or anywhere in France, we will have an extremely firm response,” Nunez said on Twitter.
There were fewer clashes and less violence than in recent weeks.
