FRANCE LATEST:  MACRON PROMISES TAX BREAKS BUT IS IT ENOUGH

"40 years of malaise"

"I understand I have hurt you with some of my statements"

"We will respond to the economic and social urgency with strong measures, by cutting taxes more rapidly, by keeping our spending under control, but not with U-turns"

From French President Emmanuel Macron's Speech 12/10/2018

France's left-wing political leader Jean-Luc Melenchon called Macron's speech one of "good intentions".     He said much of the population will not be affected by Macron's measures.

Melenchon said they will be "paid by the taxpayer" but not "by the great fortunes"

While he did not call for Phase 5 of protest next Saturday, he said it will up to those involved in the 'yellow vests' protest to decide their next action.    He said he did expect Phase 5 of the protests again next Saturday with a  "great mobilization".

Melenchon called for a "citizens revolution" and a fairer distribution of wealth.

The 'yellow vests' had already called for protest next Saturday ahead of the Macron speech.

From Marine Le Pen of the National Rally (formerly National Front) a welcome of the Macron tax relief measures but she said that his support of:

"wild globalization, financialization of the economy, unfair competition"

does not address the issues raised by the "yellow vests".

Gaullist politician Nicolas Dupont Aignan, who is being prosecuted by the government for allegedly urging police to join protesters on December 1st used words like this to describe the Macron speech:

"great comedy"

"hypocrisy"

Macron's speech was widely interpreted as a move "to the left" but not "too far to the left".   Public opinion polling showed a narrow majority of those polled in France not finding him convincing with two-thirds of the French supporting the 'yellow vests'.   The OpinionWay polling also found 54 percent supporting an end to protests.

(ADDITIONAL MATERIAL ADDED LATE MONDAY)