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| Macron Returns to Turmoil, as France Weighs State of Emergency | Macron Returns to Turmoil, as France Weighs State of Emergency |
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| PARIS — President Emmanuel Macron returned to France on Sunday from a summit meeting in Argentina to find his country in turmoil after a day of violent protests. He surveyed the destruction for himself even as his government weighed declaring a state of emergency. | PARIS — President Emmanuel Macron returned to France on Sunday from a summit meeting in Argentina to find his country in turmoil after a day of violent protests. He surveyed the destruction for himself even as his government weighed declaring a state of emergency. |
| A third weekend of nationwide protests by the “Yellow Vests” movement, largely made up of working-class people angry about a planned increase in fuel taxes, left burned cars and smashed store windows in several of the wealthiest neighborhoods of Paris. | A third weekend of nationwide protests by the “Yellow Vests” movement, largely made up of working-class people angry about a planned increase in fuel taxes, left burned cars and smashed store windows in several of the wealthiest neighborhoods of Paris. |
| Broken glass and empty tear gas canisters fired by the police littered the city, where hundreds of vandals joined the ranks of the protesters. One person died in the unrest this weekend outside Paris, bringing to three the number of casualties on the margins of the demonstrations over the last three weeks. | Broken glass and empty tear gas canisters fired by the police littered the city, where hundreds of vandals joined the ranks of the protesters. One person died in the unrest this weekend outside Paris, bringing to three the number of casualties on the margins of the demonstrations over the last three weeks. |
| More than 260 people were wounded nationwide, at least 133 of them in Paris, according to the prefecture of police. Some were bystanders caught in the fray who needed treatment after exposure to tear gas. About 412 people were arrested nationwide. | More than 260 people were wounded nationwide, at least 133 of them in Paris, according to the prefecture of police. Some were bystanders caught in the fray who needed treatment after exposure to tear gas. About 412 people were arrested nationwide. |
| The interior minister, Christophe Castaner, said on Sunday that the government might declare a state of emergency. The president has emergency powers that were expanded after the terrorist attacks of November 2015. | The interior minister, Christophe Castaner, said on Sunday that the government might declare a state of emergency. The president has emergency powers that were expanded after the terrorist attacks of November 2015. |
| “It is out of the question that each weekend becomes a ritual of violence,” a government spokesman, Benjamin Griveaux, said in an interview on Europe 1. | “It is out of the question that each weekend becomes a ritual of violence,” a government spokesman, Benjamin Griveaux, said in an interview on Europe 1. |
| The Élysée Palace said on Sunday that Mr. Macron would not comment on the protests, but he ordered Prime Minister Edouard Philippe to meet with representatives of the Yellow Vests. A meeting is expected on Monday. | The Élysée Palace said on Sunday that Mr. Macron would not comment on the protests, but he ordered Prime Minister Edouard Philippe to meet with representatives of the Yellow Vests. A meeting is expected on Monday. |
| Mr. Macron visited one of the worst-hit streets, the Avenue du Kleber, where about a third of the stores were vandalized and all of the ATMs were smashed. He was both booed and cheered. He also inspected the damage to the Arc de Triomphe, where supporters of the Yellow Vests had scrawled messages. He climbed to the top of the monument, as some of the Yellow Vests had done on Saturday night; it was now ringed with hundreds of police officers and special riot squads. | Mr. Macron visited one of the worst-hit streets, the Avenue du Kleber, where about a third of the stores were vandalized and all of the ATMs were smashed. He was both booed and cheered. He also inspected the damage to the Arc de Triomphe, where supporters of the Yellow Vests had scrawled messages. He climbed to the top of the monument, as some of the Yellow Vests had done on Saturday night; it was now ringed with hundreds of police officers and special riot squads. |
| The graffiti seemed targeted at Mr. Macron, who has been described as the “president of the rich.” | The graffiti seemed targeted at Mr. Macron, who has been described as the “president of the rich.” |
| “The Yellow Vests Will Triumph” and “Macron Quit,” read two of the scrawls. Others reported in Le Monde, France’s leading newspaper, said: “Topple the bourgeoisie,” “We cut off heads for less than this,” and “May 1968, December 2018.” | “The Yellow Vests Will Triumph” and “Macron Quit,” read two of the scrawls. Others reported in Le Monde, France’s leading newspaper, said: “Topple the bourgeoisie,” “We cut off heads for less than this,” and “May 1968, December 2018.” |
| The last message appeared to link the current protests with the nationwide strikes and fights with the police in 1968 that resulted in major social changes and compromises with workers. | The last message appeared to link the current protests with the nationwide strikes and fights with the police in 1968 that resulted in major social changes and compromises with workers. |
| The protesters’ anger was visible in the many streets that fan out from the Arc de Triomphe, which dominates one end of the Champs-Élysées, and along several other commercial avenues, where looters had broken windows, burned cars and built barricades. Vandals also targeted the wealthy area around the Church of St.-Augustin, just off Avenue Haussmann, a major shopping street with famous department stores like Au Printemps and Galeries Lafayette. | The protesters’ anger was visible in the many streets that fan out from the Arc de Triomphe, which dominates one end of the Champs-Élysées, and along several other commercial avenues, where looters had broken windows, burned cars and built barricades. Vandals also targeted the wealthy area around the Church of St.-Augustin, just off Avenue Haussmann, a major shopping street with famous department stores like Au Printemps and Galeries Lafayette. |
| The flagship Chanel store windows were shattered, as were those of several supermarkets. Looters appeared to have stolen beer from a grocery store on Avenue Hoche, leaving the bottles and boxes on the street. Planters had been dragged from cafes, overturned and used as barricades. | The flagship Chanel store windows were shattered, as were those of several supermarkets. Looters appeared to have stolen beer from a grocery store on Avenue Hoche, leaving the bottles and boxes on the street. Planters had been dragged from cafes, overturned and used as barricades. |
| Of those arrested, 378 were still being held on Sunday for questioning. The Interior Ministry said protests this weekend had drawn 136,000 people nationwide, slightly down from the 166,000 who gathered last week. | Of those arrested, 378 were still being held on Sunday for questioning. The Interior Ministry said protests this weekend had drawn 136,000 people nationwide, slightly down from the 166,000 who gathered last week. |
| Mr. Macron, who was in Argentina for the Group of 20 conference, returned early Sunday and immediately applauded the police and went to see the damage along Avenue Kleber, a major artery in the high-end 16th Arrondissement. | Mr. Macron, who was in Argentina for the Group of 20 conference, returned early Sunday and immediately applauded the police and went to see the damage along Avenue Kleber, a major artery in the high-end 16th Arrondissement. |
| Politicians and law enforcement officials alike said that the situation was close to an “insurrection. ” | Politicians and law enforcement officials alike said that the situation was close to an “insurrection. ” |
| Although the government has made no sign of reversing course on the gas tax increase that precipitated the most recent protests or of reducing other taxes, some of the Yellow Vests indicated that they were ready to negotiate. | |
| It is difficult to determine who represents the movement, which has no official leader or membership. But a group of 10 representatives wrote an opinion piece in the Journal du Dimanche, a weekly newspaper, calling for negotiations with the government. | |
| They called for an “immediate and unconditional freeze in the tax increase on fuel” as well as the cancellation of new and more rigorous vehicle inspection rules, which raise costs for drivers. They also asked to change the electoral system to one of proportional representation, which would benefit smaller parties, including those on the far left and far right. | |
| Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the leader of the far left, and Marine Le Pen, his counterpart on the far right, both called for the dissolution of the National Assembly. Such a move would force the government to call parliamentary elections, putting Mr. Macron’s majority at risk. | Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the leader of the far left, and Marine Le Pen, his counterpart on the far right, both called for the dissolution of the National Assembly. Such a move would force the government to call parliamentary elections, putting Mr. Macron’s majority at risk. |
| “We are in a situation that is almost insurrectional,” Mr. Mélenchon said in an interview on BFM-TV, a major network. “These are pages in the history of France comparable to 1968. Everything must be dealt with by having a larger perspective.” | “We are in a situation that is almost insurrectional,” Mr. Mélenchon said in an interview on BFM-TV, a major network. “These are pages in the history of France comparable to 1968. Everything must be dealt with by having a larger perspective.” |
| “The president has chosen the worst: counting on the degradation” of the Yellow Vest movement, Mr. Mélenchon added, blaming the president for not meeting with representatives of the protesters on Sunday. | “The president has chosen the worst: counting on the degradation” of the Yellow Vest movement, Mr. Mélenchon added, blaming the president for not meeting with representatives of the protesters on Sunday. |