Newsletter Newsletters Events Events Podcasts Videos Africanews
Loader
Advertisement

Yellow vests protest for 17th consecutive week as Macron's 'grand debate' reaches its final weeks

Yellow vests protest for 17th consecutive week as Macron's 'grand debate' reaches its final weeks
Copyright  Reuters
Copyright Reuters
By Rachael Kennedy with Reuters
Published on Updated
Share this article Comments
Share this article Close Button
Copy/paste the article video embed link below: Copy to clipboard Copied

Yellow vest protesters gathered in several locations across France on Saturday for the movement's 17th consecutive week of demonstrations

ADVERTISEMENT

The yellow vest movement remained steadfast on Saturday as thousands of people took to the streets across France for a 17th consecutive weekend of demonstrations.

In Paris, protesters wearing pink were spotted among the usual sea of neon yellow, having turned out to denounce unemployment reforms for child-care workers.

Videos posted to social media showed demonstrators clashing with police in the French capital, where water cannons and tear gas were also deployed to disperse the crowd.

Protest in Paris

Demonstrations were also held in several other French cities, including Bordeaux, Lyon and Toulouse.

Around 28,600 people took part in Saturday's protest, which was a drop of more than 10,000 from the week before, according to interior ministry estimates quoted by Reuters.

Protest in Lyon
Protest in Toulouse

While attendance figures in recent weeks have significantly dropped in comparison to the movement's peak of 300,000 protesters back in November, the demonstrations are still big enough to place continued pressure on French President Emmanuel Macron.

Macron's attempt to appease the movement, a three-month series of nationwide town hall-style events dubbed the "grand debate," are set to end this month.

READ MORE: Macron's Great National Debate -- What is it and how does it work? | Euronews Answers

Go to accessibility shortcuts
Share this article Comments

Read more

Protests erupt in Nantes over Macron’s public service cuts

French budget cut strikes turn violent as protesters and police clash in Paris

France's PM Lecornu announces end to 'lifetime' benefits for former prime ministers

Tension mounts in Venezuela over rival protests

Italy's prime minister halts project to build train line to France