French police fire tear gas on protesters angry over high diesel fuel prices

[Ohiogal]

Police in Paris have used tear gas and water cannon to disperse protesters demonstrating for a second weekend against rising fuel prices.

Several thousand demonstrators are estimated to have gathered and 3,000 police officers have been deployed.

Some demonstrators ripped up paving stones and threw firecrackers at police while shouting slogans calling for President Emmanuel Macron to resign.

The price of diesel, the most commonly used fuel in French cars, has risen by around 23% over the past 12 months to an average of €1.51 (£1.32; $1.71) per litre, its highest point since the early 2000s.

World oil prices did rise before falling back again but the Macron government raised its hydrocarbon tax this year by 7.6 cents per litre on diesel and 3.9 cents on petrol, as part of a campaign for cleaner cars and fuel.

The decision to impose a further increase of 6.5 cents on diesel and 2.9 cents on petrol on 1 January 2019 was seen as the final straw.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-46328439

[MichMan]

1. People get fined for not putting on a safety vest?

"Why wear yellow jackets?

All drivers in France have to carry the jackets in their cars as part of safety equipment for use in a breakdown.

Along with the familiar red reflective triangle which must be placed behind a broken-down vehicle on the side of a road, the high-visibility jacket - or "gilet jaune" - must be worn by the driver outside the car.

Failure to wear the jacket after a breakdown or accident can result in a €135 (£120; $153) fine under a law introduced in 2008.

Synonymous with driving, the jackets have now morphed into the uniform of the movement against higher fuel costs."