‘Macron promised a new world in politics and a lot of people believed him’

I don’t support gilets jaunes (yellow vests) but I understand why they are angry. In France, all the politicians say that we’re in an economic crisis, we must make an effort... Macron promised a new world in politics and a lot of people believed him. Now his new world looks very much like the old one: the taxes are always for the middle and working class. He even suppressed ISF [solidarity tax on wealth], one of the very rare taxes that are only for the wealthiest. I can’t agree with people defending polluting cars against ecological taxes, even if I think that industries should be taxed. Besides, most of these people are Marine Le Pen supporters and some are really crazy. I don’t like demonstrations to be that violent. Breaking everything is not a good way to show Macron that his politics aren’t good. Juliette, 21, Alsace

‘The last time I filled up on petrol I had to double check there wasn’t a hole in the tank’

I drive past the gilets jaunes every day and quite often twice. I’ve lived in France for 20 years and things have never seen easy here. We’re all concerned. There’s a huge difference between those wanting to make ends meet and those who joined the disturbances in Paris to express violence and anger. The government obliged people to buy yellow safety jackets through the law and they are now being used to show discontent against Macron, which is ironic in its own way. The last time I filled up on petrol I had to double check that there wasn’t a hole in the tank as the total just kept on rising. I support them, they’re us. Who doesn’t want to be allowed to earn a reasonable wage? But let’s not confuse the pillaging with the real gilets jaunes here. Every speed trap vandalised comes out of our taxes later, and ransacking restaurants? As we say here, ‘ça rime à rien’ (“it doesn’t make sense”). Protest yes, but trashing restaurants and monuments? That’s not the real movement. Lois, Marseille

‘Rich and privileged people are now more afraid than ever’

I support them. At least, those who are not racist, xenophobic and fascist. From the beginning of Macron’s term, liberalism, privatisation, and the “capitalist way” have been the only response to the real problems of people. Macron and his majority have been very arrogant and contemptuous with French citizens and the opposition, especially from the far left side (François Ruffin, among others). They now just have what they deserve. Rich and privileged people are now more afraid than ever, I guess. What is very sad is that everything is finally about money: political leaders are now panicking about Christmas, the trade, the image of France abroad, tourist bookings, etc. “Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité” is now only remembered in folklore. Money rules the world, even in the country of the human rights! How sad. I’m going next Saturday, with a friend. We want to walk peacefully. Sébastien, 47, Saint-Ouen

‘It has quickly become a protest on a system that people see as being rigged in favour of the rich’

It may have started off as a protest against fuel taxes but has quickly become a protest on a system that people see as being rigged in favour of the rich. What is amazing to see is all ages and all social backgrounds mobilising. This protest is different from others in that people are waving French flags. It’s not organised under the umbrella of unions or political parties. It’s telling that the government emphasise the rioting and praise the police as they are frightened to see ordinary people protesting. Their strategy is to divide the population to keep a lid on the protest. Interestingly a cry often heard at rallies is “police avec nous” (“police with us”). The media of course are complicit in this with headline terms such as “French riots”. These are dangerous times, as if it continues and evolves there is a risk of a government being overwhelmed, new elections and the extreme [parties] being elected. A lot of Macron’s ministers and deputies are political novices and they along with him are struggling to react. What is sad in all of this is that a move away from a carbon economy is necessary, but it needs to be done in a coherent and fair way. Protests are happening all over the country from big cities to small towns. As France is such a centralised country, to make your voice heard you have to take it to Paris otherwise it’s generally ignored. Col, 46, Bordeaux

‘I support the protesters but not the violence’

They [the gilets jaunes] are people like me, trying to get by on small salaries while the cost of living keeps rising. It’s not normal that working people cannot live well – this tax on fuel is the straw that’s breaking the camel’s back. Macron needs to wake up to this – he’s giving tax breaks to the rich while the ordinary Joe in the street like me can barely afford the basic necessities in life. Something has to give. I support the protesters but not the violence and pillaging: I believe much of this was carried out by extremists who are not representative of the movement at large. I don’t want to see the city I love get wrecked, and I’m afraid this is just the beginning – there could be serious trouble on the horizon. Christina, 48, teacher, Paris

‘The unrest is the result of the complete abandonment of our countryside’

I do not support the gilets jaunes for several reasons. First, that “carbon tax” was part of Macron’s 2017 platform. He won that election. He is delivering what he promised. Secondly, I think the timing is very poor and that many companies and financial institutions that would have moved to Paris due to Brexit will move elsewhere now. Probably Frankfurt? Thirdly, like most people who work in Paris, I don’t drive. So the tax doesn’t affect me nor my friends and colleagues. What they demand is not clear. They have no leaders, no specific demands. How do you negotiate then? How do you improve things? I hate Macron. I understand the anger, but not like this. There were candidates with welfare programs at the 2017 election. There were candidates who promised to revitalise the rural areas. People did note vote for them. And now they riot. Until now the main riots have happened on Saturdays, when I went to work on Mondays, everything was perfectly normal. Very few of the protesters appear to be Parisians, they seem to come from the provinces, especially rural areas, which are the most impacted by the new tax. But it’s not really about the new tax. I think the unrest is the result of the complete abandonment of our countryside for the last 30 years or so. The tax is just the last final straw. Our rural areas have turned into deserts. No infrastructure, no administration, no jobs, no respect, no power. William, 32, Paris

‘It took until things were burning before they backed off’

I live in a small village in southern France, we have no public transportation at all here and the closest large city is 40 minutes’ drive. I am also disabled and even if it was possible to just ride a bike (up the side of a mountain) or walk I couldn’t. On top of all of this I only make a small pension thanks to a work accident; I’m still under social security, drawing just 80% of my former salary, which wasn’t a lot to begin with. It’s already extremely difficult just to pay my bills and buy food. How on earth could I afford even more? Tell me, how is it fair to all of us who work hard, pay our taxes, own homes, and just try to get by? We aren’t rich like the many in Paris who support this [fuel tax] and say things like “it’s a necessary evil”. We tried to be nice but the government refused to listen – it took until things were burning before they backed off! I carry a yellow vest on my car dashboard. Everyone can see it and they know I support this cause. All over France you see this. Lennon, 40, southern France