France is deploying thousands of police to try to contain nationwide protests and road blockades by drivers angry over rising fuel taxes and Emmanuel Macron’s presidency.
By Associated Press Reporters
November 24 2018 7:59 AM
France is deploying thousands of police to try to contain nationwide protests and road blockades by drivers angry over rising fuel taxes and Emmanuel Macron’s presidency.
Tensions have been mounting around the grassroots movement that drew more than a quarter of a million people a week ago to demonstrations across France, from Provence to Normandy and in between.
A new wave of protests was planned on Saturday, including beneath the Eiffel Tower.
Interior Minister Christophe Castaner called for calm and promised tough police measures against unruly crowds.
Paris alone is deploying some 3,000 security forces, notably around tourist-frequented areas like the Champs-Elysees, after an unauthorised attempt last week to march on the presidential palace.
Two people have been killed and hundreds of others injured in the week of protests, which are posing a big challenge to Mr Macron.
Authorities are struggling because the movement has no clear leader and has attracted a motley group of people with broadly varying demands.
