Barely a peep from the media about the developing situation and protests. The revolution will not be televised springs to mind. Is it really not newsworthy or what is actually going on?
Could any of it be considered blowback from the decades of other strikes? Something where this group has watched groups getting concessions and the fuel tax was the spark to set off the powderkeg of pent up frustrations? I honestly have just been chalking this up as just another French protest since it seems like they have big strikes/protests every six months or so.
Could any of it be considered blowback from the decades of other strikes? Something where this group has watched groups getting concessions and the fuel tax was the spark to set off the powderkeg of pent up frustrations? I honestly have just been chalking this up as just another French protest since it seems like they have big strikes/protests every six months or so.
It's more an accumulation about the current economic state in France rather then connected to other recent protests or unrests imo. Most french protests or strikes where just interest groups (farmers, teachers, train personnel etc etc) and french farmers will strike regardless of who is in charge. There have been no real riots or protests from the general population in a few decades though.
The frustration among the general population was already high and the political "revolution" already took place during last elections, when they butchered the old political elite. I mean "en Marche" captured more then half of the parliament seats out of nothing. Now after having "won" over the establishment they are being "let down" by the new movement, nothing changed and "they are fucked again" by "the elite" so it boils down to this.
Some very unfortunate outings from Macron and his ministers in the media didn't help last week tho. The minister for interior didn't know what the minimum wage was and Macron told a farmer in Paris he should just cross the street and find a job in construction or a restaurant. (the man was from Brittany in rural France)
It's more an accumulation about the current economic state in France rather then connected to other recent protests or unrests imo. Most french protests or strikes where just interest groups (farmers, teachers, train personnel etc etc) and french farmers will strike regardless of who is in charge. There have been no real riots or protests from the general population in a few decades though.
The frustration among the general population was already high and the political "revolution" already took place during last elections, when they butchered the old political elite. I mean "en Marche" [captured more then half](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Parliament#/media/File:Assembl%C3%A9e_nationale_2017-11-30.svg) of the parliament seats out of nothing. Now after having "won" over the establishment they are being "let down" by the new movement, nothing changed and "they are fucked again" by "the elite" so it boils down to this.
Some very unfortunate outings from Macron and his ministers in the media didn't help last week tho. The minister for interior didn't know what the minimum wage was and Macron told a farmer in Paris he should just cross the street and find a job in construction or a restaurant. (the man was from Brittany in rural France)
Cause the US media doesn't understand what is going on and is utterly clueless. This is however closely being reported on and followed in the media on this side of the ocean.
I'll give you a small summary:
The group started on facebook and social media about unrest about incoming fuel taxes a few weeks ago.
The yellow vests in origin represents all aspects of the french classes but mainly the poor, lower middle class and rural population, they don't have organization, structure or leaders.
The yellow vests are against Fuel taxes, Macron, his cabinet/party (en Marche) and "the elite"
The yellow vests are not Anti-EU, anti French or anti US. it does represent a "counter movement" where people can unload all kinds of disgruntled underbelly feelings into, but those are all individual.
The yellow vests are not "spreading all over Europe" its mainly a French interior thing. The only area this sort of caused problems is Wallonia / French Belgium whom are wannabe french cunts anyway (no real shit going on in flanders for example). In other EU countries if there actually where protests they where very small scale and only a handful of people attended, causing no incidents.
There has been a growing disregard for the middle-class in France for the last decade. Growing income disparity, lack of employment (especially outside the Paris region/ rural france) and a bleak future outlook for economic growth. Also remember France has a whiff of the southern EU country economics (think spain, Italy, Greece) so there is a "fucked up" factor.
Macron won last elections and won a majority in parliament with a brand new party, who promised "change" and normal people in governement. Needlessly an entire newly raised party will run into a lot of problems because there is lack of structure, vision and cooperation experience. When they proposed fuel taxes the rural community started to react, the rural French are very much dependend on their car (think US) much more so then in metropolitan areas. so instead of making things better (like they promised) the new cabinet/party and new president Macron have "failed to deliver".
Keep in mind the French love to protest and strike like no other in the world. Their modern history is riddled with periods of unrest in especially the 60's and 70's. "Barricade" is a French word for a reason. Every other year the farmers block highways to protests, train personnel strikes for weeks or airline pilots of air france/KLM strike during the busy holiday season. (their Dutch counterparts KLM didn't strike cause it was BS especially with the state of the company). I think it's some basic French remnant of the French revolution or something.
Good sources for actual news on the yellow vests / unrests in France:
https://www.france24.com/en/
https://www.bbc.com/news/world/europe
https://www.apnews.com/apf-topnews
https://www.reuters.com/news/world