PARIS
- The yellow vest movement once again took to the streets on Saturday in Paris, Toulouse, Strasbourg and other cities, after spreading calls for a rally in recent days on social media platforms.
The movement, with the participation of some trade unions, started from Protoy Square in the seventh arrondissement of the capital, Paris, towards the Ministry of Economy and Bercy Palace, to demand higher wages and better living conditions.
These demonstrations come at a time when the government of French President Emmanuel Macron is facing harsh criticism from his opponents and hot files, foremost of which are high inflation rates and an increase in food prices to 60% or more, as well as the controversial pension reform law.
modest return
Despite the tense social situation that dominates the scene in general due to the expected reform of the pension system and against the increase in the price of basic products such as gasoline, electricity and foodstuffs, the return of movement was not as expected.
The police headquarters in the French capital stated that the number of demonstrators reached about 700, while the number of participants in Montpellier did not exceed 150.
It is noteworthy that the movement organized its first demonstrations on November 17, 2018, to denounce the rise in fuel prices and taxes, and was able at that time to attract hundreds of thousands of French people in all cities.
Yesterday, Saturday, the march witnessed a small turnout, with a tight security cordon and police cars surrounding the demonstrators' convoy in all directions to restrict their movement and impose control as much as possible.
The yellow vests return to demonstrate again in France, amid tight security (Al-Jazeera)
Expensiveness ravages the French
Jamal Bouaban - a member of the yellow vest movement - told Al-Jazeera Net that although the participation is somewhat weak, it "has achieved its goal to confirm that our voices have not disappeared yet, and the government of Emmanuel Macron must hear our demands and take them more seriously."
"We went out today for the sake of all the French who are dying of hunger because of the high prices that they can no longer afford," Bouaban added, vowing to organize more demonstrations in the future.
According to him, the movement has not forgotten its members who were injured in previous demonstrations due to police repression over the past four years, as they are only "the tip of the iceberg," as he put it.
On the other hand, Mary (retired for 3 years) described the police vehicles deployed in the streets, "as if it were a civil war waged by the frustrated people burdened with the burdens of daily life against the government that controls their fate."
Mary added, "I am participating today to add my voice to the retirees and employees who strongly reject the pension law that Macron wants to impose on us. To be honest, my salary is barely enough now."
While one of the participants in the Parisian march shouted, "Today's demands are the same as yesterday's demands. We no longer have the money to feed ourselves and pay housing and health bills."
The rejection of a large number of French people by Macron's policies is one of the most important reasons that led to the protest (Al-Jazeera)
Rejecting the decisions of the Macron government
The rejection of Macron's policies by a large number of French people is one of the most important reasons that led to the protest. "We are here against reforming the pension system and the high cost of living. We are here against what Macron is doing," said one of the demonstrators.
The government is scheduled to present the day after tomorrow, Tuesday, a draft reform of the retirement system, which is considered socially difficult, but it may bear fruit financially, after postponing the retirement age from 62 to 64 years.
Inflation and rising prices have become one of the most important topics discussed by citizens in France. Inflation reached 5.9% last December, down slightly from November, when it recorded 6.2%.