President Macron is expected to offer tax cuts and subsidies to lower-income families in France today in an attempt to repair his battered authority after two Saturdays of riots and destruction in Paris that have shaken his 18-month-old administration. In a television appearance, Mr Macron is also likely to accept blame for having given an impression of arrogance that has spurred tens of thousands of so-called gilets jaunes or yellow vest protesters to block roads for the past three weeks and skirmish with police in Paris and other cities. “Obviously we underestimated the need of our fellow citizens to express themselves and tell of their difficulties,” Benjamin Griveaux, the government spokesman, said. “It is anger that is difficult to understand from an office in Paris.”…

Source: The Times December 10, 2018 00:06 UTC