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France’s Macron Blinks in Standoff With Yellow Vests
WSJ ^ | Matthew Dalton and Noemie Bisserbe

Posted on 12/04/2018 7:54:01 AM PST by RoosterRedux

French President Emmanuel Macron delayed a planned tax increase on fuel, handing a victory to a grass-roots protest movement that has massed across France to challenge his agenda.

Faced with another weekend of destructive protests by the “gilets jaunes”—or yellow vests—Prime Minister Édouard Philippe told a news conference Tuesday the tax hike would be pushed back six months. The worst riots to hit Paris in decades erupted during antigovernment protests Saturday, leaving the city’s shopping and tourist center dotted with burning cars and broken storefronts. Protesters vandalized the Arc de Triomphe, rattling Mr. Macron’s administration and the nation.

“No tax is worth threatening the unity of the nation,” Mr. Philippe said.

The protests have become a test of Mr. Macron’s resolve to forge ahead with his broader agenda, particularly his pro-business overhaul of the French economy. Tuesday’s concession marked the first time the Macron government has blinked since the former investment banker took office in the spring of 2017.

The French leader has eschewed the consensus-building approach of his predecessors. Instead he wielded his executive powers and his large majority in Parliament to defy the political opposition, unions and other groups as he stripped away job protections and wealth taxes that help underpin France’s social model.

In recent months, however, Mr. Macron’s approval ratings have plummeted and lawmakers in his own party have begun calling on him to display flexibility as the gilets jaunes protests have piled up. Polls show that more than 70% of the public supports the gilets jaunes.

(Excerpt) Read more at wsj.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: emmanuelmacron; europeanunion; france; globalwarminghoax; macron; yellowvest; yellowvests
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1 posted on 12/04/2018 7:54:01 AM PST by RoosterRedux
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To: RoosterRedux

Someone told him you can’t have this happen during the UN’s annual Global Warming Scream Fest


2 posted on 12/04/2018 7:56:13 AM PST by butlerweave
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To: butlerweave

Another Freeper pointed out that Trump saw through this metrosexual faggot from their first meeting.


3 posted on 12/04/2018 7:57:15 AM PST by PGR88
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To: RoosterRedux

I wonder how Macron likes seeing Nationalism up close and personal?-)


4 posted on 12/04/2018 8:00:48 AM PST by Harpotoo (Being a socialist is a lot easier than having to WORK like the rest of US:-))
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It's not like the gas tax is the only issue the rioting French have with Macron. The gas tax was just the triggering issue.

The French, like the Germans and other Europeans, are being sold out to the EU and its bureaucratic elite...and they are sick of it.

And by caving, Macron showed them that rioting gets results.

It's like negotiating with terrorists (not that the rioters are terrorists, they're not). Once you start, there's no turning back.

5 posted on 12/04/2018 8:03:12 AM PST by RoosterRedux
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To: Harpotoo
Hahah. That's what I was thinking.

The rioters obviously think nationalism IS patriotism.

6 posted on 12/04/2018 8:04:13 AM PST by RoosterRedux
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To: RoosterRedux
Prime Minister Édouard Philippe told a news conference Tuesday the tax hike would be pushed back six months.

“No tax is worth threatening the unity of the nation,”

Oh? Then why re-impose it on the peasants in only six months, hmmm?

7 posted on 12/04/2018 8:05:22 AM PST by null and void (Socialist Worker's Party. If they ever get elected, you'll work and they'll party.)
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To: null and void
"“No tax is worth threatening the unity of the nation,” "

I thought that Gorebal Warning is THE existential threat to France?

8 posted on 12/04/2018 8:19:19 AM PST by Paladin2
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To: null and void

“Oh? Then why re-impose it on the peasants in only six months, hmmm?”

So the politicans can win re-election in May before the taxes are re-imposed? They’re buying time and votes.

The French have realized their Governing class has sold them out to globalists at their own expense. There will be no reprieve.


9 posted on 12/04/2018 8:21:35 AM PST by Justa
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To: null and void
Oh? Then why re-impose it on the peasants in only six months, hmmm?

Because six months should be long enough to review the tapes, identify the key people in the protests, and make them disappear into a gulag somewhere. Then the peasants will be more amenable to accepting the yoke of their overlords.

10 posted on 12/04/2018 8:25:21 AM PST by pepsi_junkie (Often wrong, but never in doubt!)
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To: RoosterRedux

How French of him.


11 posted on 12/04/2018 8:25:31 AM PST by BillyBonebrake
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To: RoosterRedux

In Oregon we riot for higher taxes.


12 posted on 12/04/2018 8:25:38 AM PST by Cold Heart
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To: Cold Heart

That’s for sure...we had a couple of measures on the ballot that would have lowered taxes, and they were voted down!

Oregon has changed so much in the 35 years I’ve lived here.

Ed


13 posted on 12/04/2018 8:38:00 AM PST by Sir_Ed
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To: RoosterRedux

Profiles in Courage.


14 posted on 12/04/2018 8:46:14 AM PST by Migraine
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To: All
“...forge ahead with his broader agenda, particularly his pro-business overhaul of the French economy...”

Can anyone explain how increasing the tax on diesel fuel and thus affecting shipping of everything is “pro-bussiness” - or is there some strange french logic involved?

15 posted on 12/04/2018 8:53:05 AM PST by az_gila
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To: pepsi_junkie

And give the NWO Deep State media mouthpieces time to vilify the movement.


16 posted on 12/04/2018 8:56:17 AM PST by Doctor DNA (This is not your grandfather's internet.)
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To: Migraine
I think also that Macron and the EU elites have just misjudged their ordinary citizens. They thought they could ram this globalism crap down their throats and there would be no backlash.

They were wrong.

I think this is just the start of the revolt of the common man against the plans of the elites.

17 posted on 12/04/2018 8:57:52 AM PST by RoosterRedux
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To: RoosterRedux

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9V-zUlrhEE


18 posted on 12/04/2018 8:59:57 AM PST by sevlex
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To: Sir_Ed

At one time I couldn’t believe that people were that stupid.


19 posted on 12/04/2018 9:05:05 AM PST by Cold Heart
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To: RoosterRedux
I think this is just the start of the revolt of the common man against the plans of the elites.

Methinks this is going to be one hell of a couple of centuries in the history of the world.

20 posted on 12/04/2018 9:05:18 AM PST by Don Corleone (Nothing makes the delusional more furious than truth.)
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