Five bare-breasted protesters dressed as Marianne, the symbol of the French Republic confronted a phalanx of CRS riot police in Paris on Saturday, bringing an unexpected turn to a fifth weekend of “yellow-vest” protests – CRIMSON TAZVINZWA//AIWA! NO!

PARIS (Reuters) – French military forces joined police in Paris on Saturday to tackle the nineteenth consecutive weekend of “yellow vest” protests against President Emmanuel Macron’s government.

Protesters were banned from gathering on the Champs Elysees after shops and businesses there were looted and wrecked last weekend, prompting the government to call in “Operation Sentinelle” military units.

DW News
Violent yellow vest protesters in France ignited fires and ransacked shops on Paris’ Champs-Elysees in what were the most violent street clashes so far this year. Police reacted with tear gas and water cannons. This is the fourth month of demonstrations by a loose coalition of activists, unions and citizens who are angry with French President Emmanuel Macron and his policies. Protesters accuse him of forgetting about ordinary people and favoring France’s elite, who tend to frequent the shops and restaurants on the Champs-Elysees. #France #YellowVests #Macron

Pockets of demonstrators began to gather in other parts of Paris and other major French cities in the latest protests which began in November after public anger against fuel taxes rises.

The movement has morphed into a broader backlash against Macron’s government, despite it scrapping the fuel taxes.