Yellow Vest Protests Make Violent Return in France

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic and economic downturn facing France and much of Europe, the Yellow Vest (or Gilets Jaunes) movement returned to the streets of Paris on September 12, despite police prohibitions. 

The original yellow vest protests began in 2018 after French President Emmanuel Macron announced a fuel tax to further his efforts to combat climate change. The movement, which began with rural workers, has since grown to include working and middle class people protesting the French social system. Activists have taken to targeting Macron’s policies, which have produced tax cuts for the wealthy, a decline in living standards, and economic hardships. The calls of protesters have varied greatly from simply repealing the fuel tax to demanding Macron’s resignation, however, the French government has not wavered in its position. 

These latest protests mark the first since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic that the yellow vests have convened, indicating continued support for the movement. The COVID-19 crisis resulted in an economic downturn in France with a 13.8 percent drop in gross domestic product (GDP) quarter-over-quarter. Moreover, a recent 110 billion euro plan to revitalize the French economy in the face of climate change, which would engender results similar to those produced by the fuel tax, has also bolstered support for the yellow vests. These two issues in conjunction with the French government’s uncompromising stance have culminated in the violent return of the protests, resulting in 256 arrests on September 12 alone. 

These protests continue to wedge a divide between the people and their government. As a result of the first year of the movement, President Macron established a 10 billion euro aid package. While this remains the only package of its kind,  the return of protests highlights the continuing discontent amongst French citizens toward the state of the economy and the social structures currently in place. While mixed interpretations as to the fortitude of the movement persist, the rallies provide an outlet for the frustrated to underscore the lack of improvement to working and middle class livelihoods over the past two years. 

If the government does not respond, protests could continue and become increasingly violent and widespread. As coronavirus cases in France soar, this could further exacerbate the pandemic and potentially force the country into a second lockdown. If such a scenario played out, the economic fallout could be catastrophic, further inflaming the rage presently fueling the yellow vests.