France: Nationwide “yellow vest” protests pass without major incident March 2 /update 3

Event

Thousands of people participated in "yellow vest" protests across France on Saturday, March 2, with most demonstrations passing without major incident. According to the Ministry of the Interior, some 39,300 people protested nationwide, including some 4000 in Paris, marking a decline in national turnout compared to previous weeks' protests.

In Paris, demonstrators marched from the Arc de Triomphe to Place Denfert-Rochereau as security forces blocked areas around the Élysée Palace and other government buildings; though the protest was largely held without incident, police reportedly fired water cannons at demonstrators on Avenue des Champs-Élysées. Police also fired water cannons and tear gas to disperse demonstrators in Toulouse, Bordeaux, and Nantes. Brief confrontations between protesters and police were reported in Lyon and Lille, as well, resulting in no serious injuries.

Additional "yellow vest" protests are to be expected across France over the coming weeks, particularly on Saturdays. A heightened security presence is to be expected near related demonstrations. Localized transportation and business disruptions are likely near protest sites, and clashes between security forces and protesters cannot be ruled out.

Context

The "yellow vest" movement began on November 17, 2018, to protest rising fuel prices and a planned fuel tax and has since grown to encompass a number of popular grievances against the French government; some protests have turned violent and acts of vandalism and looting have been reported, although the scale of the protests has diminished since their height in December. Some 1700 demonstrators and 1000 police officers have been wounded in clashes since the protests began.

The government had previously announced a tax increase on fuel prices, including gasoline and diesel, beginning on January 1, 2019, to promote environmentally friendly practices. Although the government announced the withdrawal of the carbon tax project from the 2019 budget on December 5 and a EUR 10 billion (USD 11.4 billion) support package for low-income workers and pensioners, protests have continued. Demonstrators have also largely rejected a series of nationwide town hall debates with local representatives proposed by President Emmanuel Macron and aimed at addressing policy issues of public concern, including taxation and the provision of public services. The protesters assert that such debates represent a government attempt to slow the momentum of the protest movement by venting public frustration into the talks, thereby easing pressure on the government to institute substantive policy changes.

Advice

Individuals in France are advised to monitor developments to the situation, avoid all protests due to the risk of violence, budget extra time to reach their destinations if traveling through areas affected by demonstrations, and adhere to any instructions issued by the local authorities.