REVIEW: The Yellow Vest Movement - FRANCE • reviewsphere

Paris, home of strike action, demonstrations and revolutions, is now facing unrest in a way which has not been experienced in France since the uprising of 1968. France a country which is currently politically fragile with Macron as President has civilians building walls in order to protect themselves, their businesses and family from potential outbursts of violence. What’s striking is the fact that recently other countries including the UK are getting involved with this movement.

So, basically, what started as a protest against rising fuel prices has reached increasing levels of violence and hostility. There are the original ‘yellow vest’ protestors who primarily want fuel prices to stay the same, however, this idea has spread like wild fire and has added elements now fuelled by these outbursts. Many would agree that the protests based on the fuel situation are legitimate and logical. So what is actually going on in France?

It appears that there is a deeper level of unrest and dissatisfaction and that the fuel protests are the ideal movement to catch on to in order to display this. The danger, of course, is that now all people with some level of despair at the country’s government join this crusade of violence, using it as an opportunistic venture to be noticed and bring their own political agenda to the forefront. The ‘yellow vest movement’ has been lost amongst resident of France protesting against the government, President Macron and issues which are not directly related- such as immigration, union power and rebelling against the upper classes.

Even in the case that the original ‘yellow vests’ has been lost sight of and partially taken over by others joining the movement – the indication is clearly a catalyst for others to express their own anger, outrage and need for change. The ‘yellow vests’ are only a band wagon to jump upon. But, this deep-rooted sense of unrest has to be acknowledged too. What began as fuel agenda crisis had expanded on a massive scale and it cannot be ignored.

Here in the UK people are demonstrating about BREXIT in parallel with France. Countries such as Germany and Belgium are also attaching themselves to the movement.

Macron himself made a speech probably meant to pacify the residents of France but during this he acknowledges the role he has played personally and takes responsibility for some of his words. He also accepts the deep level of disenchantment going on in France in relation to the government. Can this be an adequate enough response though- when much of this deep level of outrage is actually aimed towards the President himself? It seems there would have to be some significant changes for the French who are passed being quickly soothed by what many consider are the insincere words of the France’s Head of State.

There are political agendas too: The Front National and the left wing CGT support the ‘yellow vest movement’ but for very different reasons indeed. The FN are using it to highlight the cost of immigration and the CGT to campaign against the power of the elite groups.

There is no doubt that crisis point has been long reached and identifying the real ‘yellow vests’ from the opportunistic groups will be challenging. The worrying aspect is the levels of violence being displayed as this movement passes by the usual demonstrations in France with street marches with music playing. This is French people coming together but in a fragmented manner who will only be stopped through recognition of groups, agendas and the need to find meaningful solutions.