French police, protesters clash in Paris, 205 arrested

The so-called yellow vest protesters opposing diesel tax hikes and the high cost of living gathered at the top of the grandest avenue in Paris on Saturday morning.

Police already blocked access to the avenue, and strictly conduced identity checks and bag inspections. Riot police used tear gas and water cannon against protesters as they were trying to break the blockade and force their way through.

An estimated 75,000 people were taking part in the protests across France, the Interior Ministry said in a statement.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, speaking at the Paris police's command center, said 36,000 people were protesting across France, including 5,500 in the capital.

According to French police, 65 people, including 11 officers, were injured in the protests. At least 205 people have been also arrested so far in Paris during the Saturday clashes.

Meanwhile, a building was set on fire by protesters on a major avenue near the Arc de Triomphe in central Paris, a Reuters witness said.

At least 19 metro stations in central Paris were also closed as violent clashes spread across Paris as night fell, BFM TV reported.

Among the stations shut down were Etoile, at the top of the Champs Elysee boulevard, Opera and Bastille.

The protests initially began last month after President Emmanuel Macron announced controversial hikes in diesel prices to encourage a transition towards greener energy.

Previous protests have ended with violence, with two people killed and over 600 injured.

Over the past year, the cost of diesel, the most commonly used fuel in cars in France, has risen by 23 percent.

Many people, however, are now say that they are protesting against President Macron, whom they consider as part of an elitist coterie that neither understands, nor cares how they live.

“And then there’s the disdain — he openly mocks people,” said a protester. “We called him the ‘president of the rich’ from the beginning.”

Macron took office last year with a pledge to revitalize the economy; but many voters ranging from conservative pensioners to low-income workers complain that his pro-business policies have mostly benefit companies and the rich.

Protests have also spread to the Belgian capital, where police fired tear gas and used water cannon against some 300 demonstrators.

Police said at least 60 people were arrested in possession of box-cutters, smoke bombs or tear gas canisters. It also said that protesters torched two police vans and disrupted traffic in Brussels.

They were also seen throwing rocks at the office building of Prime Minister Charles Michel.

Demonstrators were asking for lower taxes and more purchasing power. Some also demanded the prime minister’s resignation chanting “Michel, resign.”

“Our prime minister earns €25,000 per month while we get €1,200 to live, raise kids, pay rent and taxes, we never have enough,” said a protester in a yellow vest.

“We are slaves; we work so that they can live like kings,” he said.

“We want this movement to spread,” said another protester. “It began in France, it is here now, and we want it to continue to Germany and the Netherlands, across Europe, even to England.”

The Belgian prime minster has pushed ahead with an unpopular reform plan under which he will raise the retirement age to 67 from the current 65 and the retiring workers will see the retirement wage reduced even further.

KD