Single spark ignites French 'revolution'

Paris shop manager triggered yellow vest movement

When 33-year-old Priscillia Ludosky, who manages a small shop in a Paris suburb, started a petition on Facebook on May 29, she never thought it would spark a movement, or a revolution, as some have called it.

She started the petition to explain the burdens and struggles faced by the owners of small businesses and people on low incomes because of high fuel prices.

On Nov 17, what some estimate to be over a quarter million protesters took to the streets across France in the first mass demonstration by the yellow vests, or gilets jaunes-the name for the high-visibility vests motorists are required to have in their vehicles.

Many of them communicated through messages on Facebook and other social media platforms.

They were protesting against a diesel fuel tax hike proposed by French President Emmanuel Macron last year, aimed at encouraging renewable energy consumption.

The price of diesel rose by 23 percent in 2018. Macron's decision to impose a tax equivalent to 7 euro cents (8 US cents) on this fuel and about 3.5 cents on gasoline from the start of 2019, later canceled in early December, angered many, especially those living in the suburbs and small cities, who depend more on cars to commute than people living in Paris.

The so-called Act I of the yellow vest movement on Nov 17 was peaceful for the most part, but it turned violent in some places, causing one death, 409 injuries and 73 arrests. It made worldwide headlines, with graphic scenes of police using tear gas and water cannons, and protesters burning vehicles and looting stores.

In demonstrations staged in the following weeks, protesters, who were mostly peaceful, blocked roads and fuel depots and set fire to toll booths. Ten people have been killed in the protests, mostly in related traffic accidents.