The French government is set to announce on Tuesday that it will suspend fuel tax increases, in response to violent protests against the measures by the so-called gilets jaunes movement, according to media reports. Edouard Philippe, prime minister, will announce a moratorium on the increase in the fuel tax scheduled for January 1, in an attempt to ease the “yellow vests” protest, government sources told AFP. Such a move would mark the first time in Emmanuel Macron’s 18-month presidency that he has backed down on measures in the face of street protests, and comes as he faces record low approval ratings.
The government had planned to raise taxes on petrol and diesel by 2.9 cents and 6.5 cents a litre, respectively, from January, partly to curb rising carbon emissions. But the proposed policy has provoked weeks of increasingly violent protests across the country by gilets jaunes — named after the fluorescent security vests car drivers have to keep in their vehicles. The demonstrations, which began as an online protest, have morphed into a wide-ranging revolt against stagnating wages, a drop in people’s purchasing power, and against Mr Macron himself.
The fuel tax increase would have disproportionately affected those on low incomes and rural populations reliant on cars, and some felt it was the last straw by a president whose policies are perceived to favour the rich. Earlier on Tuesday morning Stanislas Guerini, who on Saturday was elected the new leader of Mr Macron’s La République en Marche, said he was in favour of a moratorium on raising fuel taxes.