It was only a couple of weeks ago that French President Emmanuel Macron was joined by 70 world leaders at the Champs-Élysées to commemorate the centenary of the end of World War I. But these days those same leaders would not want to be anywhere near this most iconic of streets where police have been battling protesters for what could be prolonged chaos.
The protest was initially sparked by rises in fuel taxes, but since it is not uncommon for a protest to originally target one problem but then morph into a wider demonstration, this, too, has turned into a more general expression of grievances against Macron, who is seen as out of touch with the daily concerns of ordinary French people outside the capital. So, to the capital thousands decided to take their grievances, traveling from across France to show their anger at Macron and his government.
The price of diesel, the most commonly used fuel in French cars, has risen by around 23 percent over the past 12 months to an average of $1.71 per liter, its highest point since early 2000. The decision to impose a further increase of 6.5 cents on diesel and 2.9 cents on petrol on Jan. 1, 2019 was seen as the final straw.
The increases are relatively small, leading most people to agree that this is about much more than fuel taxes. Certainly, there are thousands of small towns across the country where people depend heavily on cars to get to work and to shop. But it’s also about Macron’s economic policies in the face of growing frustration from low- and middle-income workers, about making ends meet. This is a grassroots movement campaigning against what the protesters say is a general decline in living standards across France.
Macron has insisted that fuel prices have to rise in line with green initiatives made necessary by the Paris Climate Change agreement. He has blamed world oil prices for three-quarters of the price rise. But try telling that to the 280,000 demonstrators at more than 2,000 locations across France on the first day of protests last week. On Saturday, the figure had dropped to 100,000 in 1,600 protest points. Although last week two people were killed accidentally, the latest protest was more violent, especially in the capital. There are claims that the far right had infiltrated the march. It is unclear what the true nature of the protests is. Is the movement being steered by hard-right agitators or hijacked by political interests? As long as the opposition to Macron is split between left and right, his power isn’t challenged. It’s when the two get together that protests become unpredictable.
The growing resentment has obviously been a springboard for partisan political attacks but in all cases, the protests are presenting Macron with a new challenge. They have no official leader, no national organization, are not run by any union or political party; the protests are spontaneous and diverse.
Whether far-right or hard-left elements are fueling the protests, they have much support at home. One survey found that almost three-quarters of French voters approved of the protests, and that more than half of those who voted for Macron support them.
That’s not good news for Macron who has presented himself as a president brought to power on the back of a grassroots movement, but one which has now turned on him. Macron says there is “no possibility” of his government backing down in the face of the disturbances. But now, with his approval ratings falling steeply, and facing a real grassroots movement, protesters are demanding from Macron a different response.
Ever since he became president last year, Macron has wanted to prove that he was not afraid of protesters and that he would not be the one to blink first. However, as Paris descends into mayhem, he may be forced to change tack.
