Champs vs Champs: yellow vests ready to demonstrate in Paris

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Two yellow vests on November 23 in Montceau-les-Mines. ROMAIN LAFABREGUE / AFP

A few hours from the act 2 of the mobilization of yellow vests, in Paris this time, disagreements are tense between the government and the yellow vests as to the organization of the event in Paris. The latter refuse to demonstrate on the Champs-de-Mars, as required by the prefecture. On social networks, many of them promise to join the Champs-Elysées at any cost.
The extent, perhaps swollen by a generally united political opposition, is however difficult to predict. But already the police are preparing.

The Champ-de-Mars proposal does not suit them. Yellow vests want to march on the Champs-Elysees! It does not matter, they say, whether to defy the important police apparatus.

On Facebook groups of yellow vests, all sorts of tricks are exchanged to arrive incognito on the main avenue. As for example that of disguising himself as a tourist and take out his yellow vest at the last moment.

Others see the gathering on the Champs-de-Mars as a trap set by the government and warn that the CRS will take advantage to make hundreds of arrests. The spokespersons of the yellow vests also call to protest on the Champs-Elysees. " We do not want to be like little sheep grazing grass, it's not our goal, " ironically Laetitia Dewalle, one of the movement's representatives.

Others believe that as a citizen, no one can prevent them from accessing the Champs-Elysees, forgetting the rules of law relating to the maintenance of public order.

→ RELIRE: On the front page: the French support the "yellow vests"

Security response

Faced with threats of overflowing, the authorities have decided to block access to the bottom of the Champs-Elysées and the Place de la Concorde, which will be completely closed on Saturday.

The perimeter is very sensitive: there is the Elysée Palace and many embassies. So this morning, the Paris police chief Michel Delpuech returned to our colleagues from BFMTV on the exceptional security system around this area.

We will apply the law. First, we will have a workforce that will be in number in this sector that will be somehow sanctuary, but we will have staff elsewhere, to intervene in reactivity. When the tourist wears the yellow vest, we will see the difference. On the other hand, there is a rule of law on the notion of assembly: it is a gathering that presents a risk, a threat to public order.

Michel Delpuech, prefect of polite Paris 23/11/2018 - by BFM Play

The other fear of the police is that thugs enjoy a demonstration on the Champs-Elysees to attack luxury stores, very busy, a month of Christmas.

The prefecture therefore warns: " Those who refuse a rally on the Champs-de-Mars will bear the responsibility for possible overflows. "

The judicial response promises to be exemplary.

The opposition to the tuning fork in its support to the movement

Meanwhile, the opposition, from the far right to the far left, is for once united behind the yellow vests.

The leader of the National Gathering, Marine le Pen, indignant on Twitter that we can refuse the French access to the Champs-Elysees. At the same time, it is encouraging divisions as to the place of assembly. If it is not expected that this Saturday alongside the yellow vests " because it is not the place for a party leader ", they are several heavyweights in the National Gathering to have announced that they will be mobilized. Louis Aliot, in Perpignan, Sebastien Chenu, in the North, or Gilbert Collard, in Paris. RN support is also posted on social networks. The party now uses the yellow vest symbol on its visuals.

Support also posted the party Republicans, who denounces for several months the increases in fuel prices without achieving political advantage. Laurent Wauquiez could, as he had done last weekend, again appear at their side.

Political opponents and sometimes even opposite sides, the yellow vests gather wide, to insubordinate France and the Communist Party. The new head of the PC will not be in processions, congress requires, but a yellow vest will be " visible on his windshield ".

■ Macron and yellow vests seen from Germany

A weakened and threatened Macron is a poor portrait of the German press these days of the French president.

" The worst test of his mandate, " writes the left-liberal daily Süddeutsche Zeitung about the revolt of the yellow vests. " Marie-Antoinette had advised the angry people to eat cakes [brioche, ed] if he had no more bread. And Macron advises motorists to buy electric cars, "mocks the daily.

" Neither unions, nor black bloc, nor political parties, nor professional lobby behind the revolt ", underlines the magazine Der Spiegel , which speaks of a still unknown form of democratic protest. In short, " an unpredictable revolt and impossible to channel, " according to the magazine.

" To the revolt of the yellow vests internally is added the predictable retirement of Angela Merkel ", finally increases the daily business Handelsblatt , for which " Macron has no other allies in Europe than the Chancellor, since it is in cold weather with Italy, has always ignored Eastern Europe and irritates Northern Europe with its calls for solidarity ".