Members of the Yellow Jackets movement demonstrated in various parts of France yesterday for the 14th consecutive day in protest against the rising cost of living, government tax reforms and the demand for greater social and economic justice. Thousands gathered in Paris's Place des Letales, before they toured the Avenue des Champs-Elysées and then crossed the Seine. Protests reached the famous Eiffel Tower. The demonstrators marched quietly, shouting slogans against the security forces that accompanied the march.
In the east of the country, the protesters returned to many of the roundabouts, where the mobilization started in mid-November, but local authorities have confirmed they will not allow any road cuts.
"We went back to the roundabouts to avoid violence in the center of the cities during the demonstrations," said Joel, 58, at a checkpoint set up by about 30 protesters in the Toulouse suburb.
The unprecedented protest movement began on November 17, and quickly spread throughout France, rejecting the government's social policy, prompting social action and launching a major national debate. "This movement is no longer demanding anything," French Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said on Thursday. "They are demanding a demonstration to celebrate the three-month anniversary," he said sarcastically.
On the other hand, thousands of Kurds demonstrated yesterday in the French city of Strasbourg to demand better conditions for the arrest of Kurdish leader Abdullah Ocalan in his prison on the island of Imrali in northwestern Turkey.