Blockades and riots in France in the return of the 'yellow vests'

The return of the yellow vests, almost eight years after the birth of this protest movement, is already causing this Saturday blockades, other protest actions and the first clashes between riot forces and protesters in several French cities, including Paris, Strasbourg, Lille, Montauban, Lyon, Marseille, Rennes and Bordeaux. The police have made at least sixty arrests in the capital, some of them of individuals suspected of having arrived in the city center to participate in riots, as they were carrying protective equipment and prohibited weapons.

A fire during the night caused the partial destruction of the roof and façade of a building at the university of Rouen, in Normandy. The prosecutor's office is considering the criminal trail, although it is unknown if it has to do with the protests.

In Paris, Marseille, Strasbourg and other cities there have been police charges to disperse the protesters, who have set fire to barricades made up of garbage containers.

From Brussels, where he participated in the European Council, President Emmanuel Macron called for calm, although the Ministry of the Interior has everything prepared to deal with episodes of violence, including the most forceful arsenal of riot control, such as stun grenades, water cannons and rubber bullets. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu convened an inter-ministerial crisis cell to monitor events.

The Paris police prefecture - which has deployed 5,000 officers - has authorized only two demonstrations, one by the yellow vests and another by students. Both have Republic Square as their starting point. Other marches, which approached nerve centers of power, have been prohibited. It will also not be possible, except risking a fine of 135 euros, to hold protests in sensitive areas such as the Champs-Elysées, the Place de la Bourse, the Chatelet-Les Halles shopping area, as well as the vicinity of institutions (National Assembly, Elysée, Matignon Palace) and railway stations. Many subway stations are closed.

A very diverse audience was expected to attend the demonstrations and other actions, with activists from left-wing parties, trade unionists, students and groups such as health workers, farmers and others. The denominator point is the discomfort due to the loss of purchasing power, especially due to the rise in fuel prices, and the deterioration of public services, in addition to the fatigue of many with the policies of the Macron governments since 2017. The National Regroupment (RN, extreme right) has completely distanced itself from the protest, denouncing a strategy of chaos of the extreme left and establishing itself as a defender of law and order.