President Emmanuel Macron tries to quell ‘yellow vest’ unrest with 2,330-word letter to France
- Macron’s initiative comes after nine weeks of protests by the ‘yellow vests’ – named after the high-visibility jackets they wear
- The disparate anti-government uprising has wreaked havoc in Paris and French cities, shaken the economy and challenged his authority
Emmanuel Macron has launched a two-month “great national debate” in France with a 2,330-word open letter to the country.
The French president hopes the nationwide public consultation will take the sting out of the widespread public anger behind the rise of the “yellow vests” movement and the civil unrest across France.
In the letter, Macron said he was open to ideas and suggestions but insisted the government would not go back on previous reforms or key measures in his 2017 election campaign.
“No questions are banned,” Macron writes.
“We won’t agree on everything, that’s normal, that’s democracy. But at least we’ll show that we are a people who are not afraid to speak, to exchange views and debate. And perhaps we’ll discover that we might even agree, despite our different persuasions, more often than we think.”
