FRANCE YELLOW VESTS WEEK 52:  MACRON MANEUVERS POLITICALLY AHEAD OF PENSION CUTS

The Yellow Vests are planning a big anniversary celebration of their movement for next weekend, but the protests will continue today.

The "green" gasoline tax hikes were slowed by the movement because of its protests but French President Emmanuel Macron is not deterred from carrying out austerity policies of raising taxes or cutting benefits.

Its the cutting of benefits Macron is hell bent on as in France's system of pensions.    He wants to take 40 plus pension systems and combine them into one with a system of points to determine the level of benefits for various professions.

Those with generous pensions like railroad workers already staging slowdowns ahead of a strike planned for December 5th.

Macron's strongest opposition does not come from France's trade unions which used to command large segments of popular support as part of a big coalition of the "Left" but from the "Right" as in Marine Le Pen's National Rally.

Marine Le Pen's popularity is stronger than before and she could potentially hit 45 percent of the vote in a second round presidential election in 2022 based on polling data this year.

Issues like immigration are her bread and butter and this week the government moved to impose quotas on immigration from non-European Union countries in a bid to woo her voters.

Mass immigration of cheap labor from EU countries in  Eastern Europe not impacted.

Macron also speaking publicly about the volatility of Bosnia in the Balkans as a base for jihadist attacks in an apparent sop to Le Pen's strong stand against jihadist terrorism.

The news came out late this week about the status of complaints against police excesses in connection with the Yellow Vests protests.

No action in 146 of the 212 complaints filed against police in Paris with an appeals process ahead for those complaints with 54 still unresolved and 54 dismissed outright.

18 of the cases under a judicial inquiry process.

Two cases of police using unwarranted force on Yellow Vests will go to court...

Now to today's protests.......

Montpellier in southern France appears to be the site of a "national protest" with black clad anarchists likely to manifest themselves.

Live video is up as of 830 am Eastern US time, 230 pm in France.....

MONTPELLIER YELLOW VESTS LIVE VIDEO FEED


Video from the AFP news agency showing the confrontational moments and other part of the protest in Montpellier today......


AFP VIDEO MONTPELLIER WEEK 52 YELLOW VESTS

The mainstream media estimate is of 600-700 people protesting in Montpellier today.  12 reported arrested with some minor injuries to police and protesters.

Video from Paris today of the police in action.......

WEEK 52 YELLOW VESTS PARIS


And a longer video some two hours long chronicles today's Yellow Vests protest in Paris......


WEEK 52 YELLOW VESTS PARIS FULL VIDEO OF MARCH


The march today in Paris from the Porte de Clichy to Place de la Batille de Stalingrad in Paris with the signs and slogans, noisemakers and drums.


Today in Marseille the Yellow Vests protest continued filling an intersection and surrounding streets.....


WEEK 52 YELLOW VESTS MARSEILLE


Yellow Vests in Toulouse today and here is a five minute plus video of the protest.   The mainstream media estimate is of 300 protesters.    Tear gas fired by the police at the protesters....


WEEK 52 YELLOW VESTS TOULOUSE


The Yellow Vests marched in Bordeaux today but the yellow flag of Kurdistan was visible in the mix as a pro-Rojava (Kurdistan) march was held to protest against Turkish military action in Syria.    The Yellow Vests there with their signs and slogans calling on President Emmanuel Macron to resign.  They entered buildings where shops are located singing songs as well.


YELLOW VESTS WEEK 52 BORDEAUX


Hundreds reported by the media marching in Strasbourg today.


Overall the mainstream media acknowledging thousands protesting today across the country.