Protestors hold a banner reading "The people speak out" during a protest of 'yellow vests' against rising fuel prices and living costs, in the southern French city of Nice on December 8, 2018 Protestors hold a banner reading "The people speak out" duringParis (AFP) Here is a timeline of the "yellow vest" movement in France, from the first online rumblings against fuel tax increases to nationwide protests leading to riots, and measures announced Monday by President Emmanuel Macron in a bid to quell the unrest.So far four people have died and hundreds have been injured during the protests.- Viral video -On October 18 an accordionist in the Brittany region, Jacline Mouraud, posts a video taken in her living room assailing "Monsieur Macron" and asking him what he's doing with taxpayers' money.The post quickly goes viral, propelling Mouraud to the fore of the nascent "yellow vest" movement, named for the high-visibility safety vests drivers are required to keep in their cars.She lists the grievances of drivers in the face of fuel price hikes, and demands of Macron: "When is this hounding of drivers, which you've pursued since your arrival, going to end? "A petition to bring down the price of fuel is quickly is posted online, and garners tens of thousands of signatures.- Mass protests -Saturday, November 17, marks the first day of road blockades across France, with nearly 290,000 demonstrators wearing the high-visibility yellow vests.Organised via social media, the grassroots protests have few visible leaders, and reject all ties to political parties or unions.The next day Prime Minister Edouard Philippe says the government will not back down on fuel tax increases set for January, intended to help pay for France's clean-energy initiatives.Violence breaks out in the French Indian Ocean island of La Reunion, led mainly by armed youths.- Second Saturday -After a week which sees "yellow vests" snarl traffic and block motorway tolls up and down the country, a large-scale demonstration takes place in Paris on Saturday, November 24. Thousands of demonstrators clash with police on the Champs-Elysees in Paris.More than 106,000 demonstrators are recorded across France, including 8,000 in Paris. A week later the number of protesters will be revised upward to 166,000.- Aborted meeting -On November 27 Macron offers minor concessions, saying he will propose a mechanism to adjust the fuel tax increases in case of rising oil costs, and calls for a three-month national consultation.Unimpressed, the "yellow vests" call for a new protest on Saturday, December 1, on the Champs-Elysees.On November 29 Philippe vainly attempts to organise talks with the "yellow vests". He meets one protester.

Source: Egypt Today December 11, 2018 11:03 UTC