Concessions made by French President Emmanuel Macron’s government in a bid to stop huge anti-government demonstrations seemed to have failed to convince protesters, with trade unions and farmers threatening to join the fray.
A day after prime minister Edouard Philippe announced a suspension of planned fuel tax hikes that sparked protests, the burgeoning “yellow vest” protest movement showed no sign of slowing down.
Students opposed to a university application system remained mobilised, trucking unions called for a rolling strike and France’s largest farm union threatened to launch protests next week.
A joint statement from the CGT and FO trucking unions protesting over a cut to overtime rates called for action from Sunday night and asked for an urgent meeting with transport minister Elisabeth Borne.
Although most of the fuel depots blocked by protesters have been cleared, fuel shortages continued to hit several parts of France on Wednesday, with hundreds of petrol stations affected.
Wearing their signature yellow vests, demonstrators were back at toll booths on Wednesday to express their demands, ranging from income and pension rises to the dissolution of the national assembly.
Meanwhile, high school students’ union FIDL called for a “massive and general mobilisation” on Thursday and urged education minister Jean-Michel Blanquer to step down.
His popularity has slumped to new lows since the first “yellow vest” demonstrations took place on November 17.
The former investment banker, who was elected after campaigning for deep pro-business economic reforms, is accused of being the “president for the rich” and of being estranged from the working classes.
