12/12/18

French President Emmanuel Macron has once again bowed under pressure from yellow-vested protesters. He first overturned the carbon tax on fuel that sparked the protests.

Now he's announced more measures. From Paris, Jake Cigainero reports

that Macron is hoping these moves help carve a path out of the biggest political crisis of his career. Many yellow vest protesters were waiting to hear Macron say, I quit.

But instead, the president declared what he called a state of social and economic emergency. He began by condemning the violence seen at the yellow vest protests over the past month

but acknowledged the frustration of the French, making a play for sincerity. I take my responsibility, Macron says,

but if I have fought to shuffle the political system, the president continued, it's because I believe more than anything in our country that I love.

Macron unveiled a series of measures he hopes will appease protesters, including a raise in minimum wage the equivalent of $114 a month next year.

Workers also won't be taxed on overtime pay or on their year-end bonuses. Macron encouraged employers to give bonuses as their way of helping to solve the social crisis in France.

French television showed yellow vests watching the president on small TVs. They were bundled up at their roadside camps around the country, waiting for the most anticipated speech of his presidency so far.

One of the protesters, Alain Bouche, acknowledged the president had made concessions. I'm tempted to say finally, he said.