Spiegel Ausland1 hour agoPolitics1 min readGermany

High fuel prices in France: Macron's fear of the return of the yellow vests

The president wants to use French soldiers to protect an oil port in Saudi Arabia - and in doing so antagonizes the populists Le Pen and Mélenchon, who are vying for his successor.

Quick Look

President Macron plans to have French soldiers protect an oil port in Saudi Arabia.
This has met with sharp criticism from the opposition, particularly from Marine Le Pen and Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who fear a renewed wave of protests by the yellow vests.

AI-generated summary

Why It Matters

The yellow vest movement originally emerged from protests against rising fuel prices in France. Macron is under pressure from political rivals who are exploiting this discontent.

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High fuel prices in France Macron's fear of the return of the yellow vests

The president wants to use French soldiers to protect an oil port in Saudi Arabia - and in doing so antagonizes the populists Le Pen and Mélenchon, who are vying for his successor.

By René Pfister, Paris

September 25, 2026, 3:46 p.m

Open Questions

What exactly does the military protection mandate in Saudi Arabia look like?
How does the French population specifically react to the operation?

High fuel prices in France: Macron's fear of the return of the yellow vests

The president wants to use French soldiers to protect an oil port in Saudi Arabia - and in doing so antagonizes the populists Le Pen and Mélenchon, who are vying for his successor.

Quick Look

President Macron plans to have French soldiers protect an oil port in Saudi Arabia.
This has met with sharp criticism from the opposition, particularly from Marine Le Pen and Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who fear a renewed wave of protests by the yellow vests.

AI-generated summary

Why It Matters

The yellow vest movement originally emerged from protests against rising fuel prices in France. Macron is under pressure from political rivals who are exploiting this discontent.

Font size

High fuel prices in France Macron's fear of the return of the yellow vests

The president wants to use French soldiers to protect an oil port in Saudi Arabia - and in doing so antagonizes the populists Le Pen and Mélenchon, who are vying for his successor.

By René Pfister, Paris

September 25, 2026, 3:46 p.m