France is experiencing unrest it has not seen for decades. France is famous for revolution and has now been rocked by violent nationwide protests. Hundreds of thousands of people have taken to the streets and have brought chaos to businesses, transport and the French economy. The protests are led by the Yellow Vests Movement, so called because protestors wear high-visibility jackets. The protests started because of rising fuel prices, the high cost of living, and claims that new tax reforms are unfair for the working and middle classes.
France's President Emmanuel Macron has declared "a state of social and economic emergency". The violence has caused over a billion dollars in damages so far and this figure is set to rise. Paris has seen the worst of the protests. To make people happier, Mr Macron will cancel his proposed fuel-price rise, deliver tax relief for the poor, and cancel a retirement tax. He called for the chaos to end and for calm to return. He said: "No anger justifies attacking a police officer...or damaging a shop or public building. When violence is unleashed, freedom ends."
