The gilets jaunes (yellow vests)
A protest against a fuel tax rise grows into a months-long revolt of small-town and rural France against Paris, the elite and the cost of living.
- Enquêter in situ par questionnaire sur une mobilisation. Une étude sur les gilets jaunes — Collectif d'enquête sur les Gilets jaunes, Revue française de science politique (2019)
- France — Encyclopaedia Britannica, Encyclopaedia Britannica
On 17 November 2018 hundreds of thousands of people in the high-visibility vests that every French driver must carry blocked roundabouts and roads across France, protesting against a planned rise in fuel tax. Organised on social media, with no leaders or party, the movement spread to demands about wages, pensions, taxes on the rich and direct democracy. Weekly Saturday protests in Paris and other cities turned violent at times, with serious injuries among protesters from police weapons. The government dropped the tax rise, announced measures for low earners and held a “Great National Debate” in 2019. Surveys found participants were mostly working people and lower-middle-class, many of whom had never protested before.
- Enquêter in situ par questionnaire sur une mobilisation. Une étude sur les gilets jaunes — Collectif d'enquête sur les Gilets jaunes, Revue française de science politique (2019)
- France — Encyclopaedia Britannica, Encyclopaedia Britannica
Why it matters today
The yellow vests gave a face to "la France périphérique", people in small towns and rural areas who depend on cars, feel ignored by Paris and struggle to make ends meet. The movement showed how quickly French anger can move from a roundabout to the Champs-Élysées, and how deep the distrust of politicians and the media runs.