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Cristophe Chalencon, one of the leaders of the Yellow Vest revolution, said France is “on the brink of cvil war” before he vowed to fight French President Emmanuel Macron over Paris austerity. In a gathering in Italy with anti-establishment party 5-Star Movement leader Luigi Di Maio and his right-hand man Alessandro Di Battista, the Frenchman raged: “We have people, militiamen, ready to intervene because they also want to bring down the government. Today everything is calm, but we are on the brink of a civil war. “I know that I risk a lot. I can get shot in the head at any moment. But I don’t care. I defend my convictions. “Because if I got shot in the head, the people - Macron would end up on the guillotine.

“We have reached such a level of confrontation today that Macron would also fall if I fall. The people would break into the Elysée and destroy everything, him, his wife and all the group.”

When pressed for more details on his military, Mr Chalencon added: “Yes, militiamen. People who have withdrawn from the army and who are against the government.

“Of course I know. It's disturbing. It is disturbing but you do not realise it. Macron is afraid. This is why I tell you that he is afraid.”