27 November 2018, Paris — President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday he heard the anger of citizens and their complaints about higher diesel taxes but that he would not cave into violent fringe groups and change tack on energy policy.
“I do not confuse citizens and their demands with thugs,” Macron said. “I will not concede anything to those who want destruction and disorder.”
His comments follow more than two weeks of sometimes violent demonstrations by so-called “yellow vest” protesters in Paris and in towns and cities around the country.
*Michel Rose & Bate Felix; Richard Lough; Editing: Luke Baker — Reuters