Chaos in France

French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe recently introduced a new tax plan for the people of France. The Prime Minister suggested raising fuel taxes and utility hikes tremendously in order to get more of an income flowing back to the government. The citizens of France did not react well to this at all.

Through riots, this past weekend over 400 people have been arrested along with around 100 injured (Associated Press, 2018). The rioting happening isn't harmless either. People have been throwing items at police, burning cars and vandalizing buildings throughout the duration of the protest. This “protest” first started Nov. 17 by a group that’s called the “Yellow Jacket” Movement, who first protested having to have highly visible vets in their motorized vehicles (Fox News, 2018).

Some estimate the total damage has cost the French economy millions as restaurants, hotels and other buildings suffer damage and delay in business. The Prime Minister just recently announced that the tax rebuff would be delayed at least 6 months due to the responses of the French citizens. “no tax is worth putting the nation's unity in danger...” states Philippe “This anger, you'd have to be deaf or blind not to see it or hear it." (Associated Press, 2018).

France looks to rebuild National Monuments destroyed such as the Arc de Triomphe, and avenues off the Champs Elysees.

The outrage shown by the French citizens is concerning and dangerous. Seeing what the French citizens are able to do when united against the French government has become a concern for France and the rest of the world. This has become a problem that the Prime Minister and the rest of France need to figure out together and control.