Yellow vests protests
 | This article may be a rough translation from another language. It may have been generated, in whole or in part, by a computer or by a translator without dual proficiency. |
 | You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in French. (November 2018) Click [show] for important translation instructions.
|
| Gilets jaunes protests | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Gilets jaunes demonstration in Vesoul | |
| Date | 17 November 2018 – ongoing |
| Location | |
| Caused by | Increasing fuel taxes |
| Goals | Freeze on fuel taxes[1] |
| Methods | Demonstrations, civil disobedience, barricades, blocking traffic |
| Casualties | |
| Death(s) | 2 people[2] |
| Injuries | 750 civilians 135 police[2] |
The Gilets jaunes protests (French: Mouvement des gilets jaunes, lit. 'yellow vests'[3] movement, French pronunciation: [ʒi.lɛ ʒon]) is a protest movement in France that began on Saturday, 17 November 2018. The "yellow vests" blocked roads and caused traffic chaos. The demonstration arose from anger over rising fuel prices and taxes.[4][5]
The significance of the high-visibility vests arose from a 2008 law requiring a "high-visibility upper-body garment" to be carried in cars in case the driver has to exit the vehicle on the road in an emergency.[1]
History
One of the first known demonstrations in France against the excessive taxation of petrol prices dates back to 1933 in Lille. This movement against tax increases may also evoke the "poujadism" of the 1950s, which mobilized the middle classes and was articulated around a tax revolt.
"Slow-down movements" were also organized in the 1970s. In July 1992, such a movement was set up to protest against the introduction of the points-based permit.[6]
Like the red caps of the Bonnets Rouges movement, which was the rallying sign for opponents of eco-tax gates in 2013, the high-visibility vest—known as the "yellow vest" — is used as a symbol. This vest, which is mandatory in France in all vehicles, including two- or three-wheel motor vehicles or motor quadricycles with no bodywork,[7] is in this case placed on the dashboard or on the rear deck in order to be visible from outside the vehicle.
However, according to Béatrice Giblin, director of the magazine Hérodote, comparing the movement of yellow vests with that of the Red Caps is irrelevant insofar as the latter "had been taken in hand by real leaders, such as the mayor of Carhaix, or the great bosses of Brittany. This is not the case for yellow vests."[8]
Background
Diesel prices in France have increased by 16% in 2018, with taxes on both petrol and diesel increasing at the same time and a further tax increase planned in 2019. Those increases made the diesel as expensive as petrol.[9] French President Emmanuel Macron is bearing the brunt of the protestors' anger for his extension of policies implemented under François Hollande's government.[9]
Protests
The protests began on 17 November 2018, and attracted over 300,000 people across France, with protestors constructing barricades and blocking roads.[10][11]
On 17 November 2018, one protestor was killed near Lyon when a panicked motorist inadvertently ran them over.[9]
The protests continued for the next four days with dwindling numbers, with 10,000 people still blocking roads on November 20.[10]
In addition to blocking roads, up to 10 fuel depots were blockaded by the protestors as well as a tunnel used by the Eurostar train to the United Kingdom.[12]
After the unauthorized protests in Paris raised tensions the week before, the Interior Ministry agreed to allow a gathering on 24 November at the Champ de Mars, the field stretching out beneath the Eiffel Tower.[13]
On 24 November 2018, protests attracted over 100,000 people across France (106,000 according to the Ministère de l'intérieur[14]), including 8,000 in Paris where the protests became violent. Protestors lit fires in the streets, tore down signs, built barricades and pulled up paving stones. Police resorted to tear gas and water cannons to disperse the protesters.[11] The interior minister, Christophe Castaner blamed political leader Marine Le Pen for the violence after she reportedly urged people to come to the Champs Élysées,[14] but according to Le Pen, the responsibility for the violence is due to the government who let these people enter on to the Champs Élysées and accused the interior minister of trying to discredit the movement.[14]
Protests also occurred on the French overseas region of Réunion, where the situations deteriorated into looting and riots. Schools on the island were closed for three days due to protestors blocking access roads.[15] On 21 November, Macron ordered the deployment of troops to the island to calm the violence.[15][13]
Result
The Gilets jaunes protests have led to two people killed and injured more than 750 people, including 136 police officers.[2]
Officials estimated that the damage in Paris alone could be up to €1.5m (£1.3m) and mobilised 200 additional workers to assist with the cleanup and repair work.[16]
Fuel prices
The protest begins at the end of October 2018 with an online petition. The latter then protested against an increase in fuel prices at the pump that was considered excessive over a 12-month period, and claimed that this increase was due to the increase in taxes.
According to the French Union of Petroleum Industries, the price of lead-free 95 (SP95 - E10) and diesel fuel per litre increased by +14% and +22% respectively between October 2017 and October 2018. However, two thirds of this increase is due to the increase in world oil prices; only one third of the price increase comes from a tax increase.
Tax increase is 7.6 cents per Liter on diesel and 3.9 cents on petrol in 2018. Next increase of 6.5 cents on diesel and 2.9 cents on petrol is planned on 1 January 2019.[11]
The taxes collected on the sale of fuel are:
- the domestic consumption tax on energy products (TICPE), calculated pro rata to the volumes sold. Its amount is therefore independent of the oil price. Since 2014, ICTPE has included a carbon component, the amount of which is increasing each year and whose objective is to send a price signal to gradually reduce fossil energy consumption. The TICPE for diesel fuel also increases each year in order to bring its taxation closer to that of petrol;
- value added tax (VAT), calculated on the sum of the price excluding tax and the amount of the ICTPE. Its rate has been stable at 20% since 2014, after having been at 19.6% between 2000 and 2014.
The protesters criticize Édouard Philippe's second government for not changing the trajectory of the increase in the carbon tax provided for in the 2018 finance bill for the period 2018-2022, in order to mitigate the effect of the sharp increase in the price of oil.
In the week before 17 November, the price of unleaded petrol fell by €0.05 and the price of diesel fell by €0.03 per litre, due to fluctuations in the price of a oil barrel of Brent.[17]
This protest movement against fuel prices mainly concerns individuals, as a number of professions and activities benefit from partial or total exemptions from ICTPE.
The increase in the price of pre-tax fuel tends to increase the VAT revenues collected on this product, while ICTPE revenues are already included in this price.
Influence
The Gilets jaunes protests have also had an impact in Italy. According to the Italian gilet jaunes, "We are inspired by the French gilet jaunes, (...) But we are motivated by other issues. We, unlike the French, support our government. What we protest against is Europe. We want Europe to no longer interfere with Italian politics."[16]
In Belgium a non political gilets jaunes protest considers creating a political list to run for European elections in 2019 under the name Mouvement citoyen belge.[18]
See also
References
- ^ a b "The Yellow Vests: Who they are and why their tax protest is a big deal". The Mercury News. 20 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
- ^ a b c "Paris: 'Yellow vest' protest marred by violent clashes with French police on Champs-Elysées". 24 November 2018. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
- ^ "How the 'yellow vests' are planning to block France's roads on Saturday". 2018-11-16. Retrieved 2018-11-19.
- ^ "« Gilets jaunes » : anatomie d'une journée de colère". Le Monde.fr (in French). Retrieved 2018-11-19.
- ^ Willsher, Kim (2018-11-16). "'Gilets jaunes' protesters threaten to bring France to a standstill". the Guardian. Retrieved 2018-11-19.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|dead-url=(help) - ^ "Opération escargot contre le permis à point". archives-imagesplus.tv. Retrieved 2018-11-15.
- ^ "Article R416-19 du Code de la Route". Legifrance. Retrieved 15 November 2018.
- ^ "Qui sont les gilets jaunes?". franceculture.fr. 2018-11-14.
- ^ a b c "French fuel protests leave 1 dead, dozens injured". CNN. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
- ^ a b "LATEST: French police dislodge fuel protesters as movement wanes (for now)". The Local. 20 November 2018. Retrieved 20 November 2018.
- ^ a b c "'Shame' on Paris protesters, says Macron". BBC News. 25 November 2018. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
- ^ "France's 'yellow vest' protesters block access to fuel depots - France 24". France 24. 19 November 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
- ^ a b "French troops deployed amid protests on Reunion island". ABC News. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
- ^ a b c Willsher, Kim (24 November 2018). "French 'gilets jaunes' protests turn violent on the streets of Paris". the Guardian. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
- ^ a b "French troops deployed amid protests on Reunion island". Philly.com. Retrieved 22 November 2018.
- ^ a b Willsher, Kim (26 November 2018). "Macron: Paris protest 'battle scenes' could hurt France's image". the Guardian. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
- ^ "Revue de presse française - À la Une : qui sont les gilets jaunes ?". rfi.fr. 13 November 2018.
- ^ "En Belgique, un mouvement de « gilets jaunes » se cherche un débouché politique". Le Monde.fr (in French). Retrieved 27 November 2018.
{{cite news}}: no-break space character in|title=at position 31 (help)