The ‘Yellow Vests’ and the communist trade union CGT have joined the French uprising. This has prompted Emmanuel Macron to speak out and warn against a desire for destruction. In Marseille, demonstrators forced their way into the town hall.
“It is a constitutional right to protest and express one’s views, but this right also comes with a requirement for respect. Respect for people, respect for property, and thus an obligation not to cause offence or destruction,” said President Emmanuel Macron on Friday.
However, he described it as ‘unacceptable’ that people turn up ‘solely to cause damage and unrest’.
Alongside the trade unions and the Yellow Vests come demands for higher wages. But France is scraping the bottom of the barrel and public debt is high. There is little scope for pay rises, whilst there is no doubt that many are struggling.
In addition to complaints about the education system, the CGT is also pushing for higher wages and pensions, lower prices and the protection of public social services, according to the union. (NTB)
It is reported that 32,500 people demonstrated on Saturday. That is not a particularly large number in a vast country like France. But they are keeping the protest alive.
