“Macron is a danger to all of Europe” might have been a better headline to Natalie Nougayrède’s article (5 December). The bailout of the banks was 10 years ago but still the poor all over Europe are paying the bill while the rich, the establishment, are laughing all the way to their off-shore, tax-avoiding bank accounts. Nougayrède sees Macron as a champion for liberals and pro-Europeans but in reality he is an integral part of the European establishment that has seen food banks spring up all over Europe. If there is no a change of policy across Europe then Nougayrède will be right that the establishment could lose control of the EU parliament in 2019. Hopefully this happens and, hopefully, it’s the left that are the winners.

Michael Gold

Romford, Essex

• Natalie Nougayrède’s list of divisions in the country (and in Europe) carefully avoids mentioning the division between wealth and poverty. One of Macron’s key policies was to cut taxes for the wealthy. As people see the bankers bailed out while their own livelihoods are threatened, it is natural to demand an alternative. Another Europe (and another world) is possible, but it will need both carbon taxes and wealth taxes.

Andy Dearden

York

• I have lived and worked in France for 20 years, seeing various strikes, and people-led objections to government, and local activities, but I have to say the present “people”-led yellow vest movement is the most thrilling. Contrary to news reports, and your own newspaper, the protests have been conducted mostly very peacefully, with ordinary working men and women, and retired people, taking part at barricades, and blockades. Even in the Bordeaux city area, there has been no feeling of intimidation, or violence. Of course, with the numbers of people involved countrywide, there have been some skirmishes, but to suggest that the anarchistic rioting which has been reported in Paris is at all connected to the gilet jaunes movement is a grave injustice against the people who’ve taken to the streets.

David Pollard

Taillecavat, France

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