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The Question for France: Where Do the Yellow Vests Go From Here? The Question for France: Where Do the Yellow Vests Go From Here?
(about 11 hours later)
PARIS — The Yellow Vest tornado has created a political vacuum in France. The government of President Emmanuel Macron is weakened. The opposition parties are discredited. And the populist uprising itself proclaims its disdain for politics.PARIS — The Yellow Vest tornado has created a political vacuum in France. The government of President Emmanuel Macron is weakened. The opposition parties are discredited. And the populist uprising itself proclaims its disdain for politics.
Who or what will fill that void is now the biggest question facing France. Even though the protests have dwindled — Saturday’s were about half the size of the previous week — the Yellow Vest movement, and the anger that animates it, remain very much alive.Who or what will fill that void is now the biggest question facing France. Even though the protests have dwindled — Saturday’s were about half the size of the previous week — the Yellow Vest movement, and the anger that animates it, remain very much alive.
Political groups are now jockeying to see who will be the first to seize the movement’s energy, and whether it can be given a more organized and coherent shape.Political groups are now jockeying to see who will be the first to seize the movement’s energy, and whether it can be given a more organized and coherent shape.
Capturing the support of even part of the movement would be a potential political bonanza. Even after the violence of their protests in December, the Yellow Vests still enjoy broad popular backing, double or triple that for Mr. Macron.Capturing the support of even part of the movement would be a potential political bonanza. Even after the violence of their protests in December, the Yellow Vests still enjoy broad popular backing, double or triple that for Mr. Macron.
“This movement is very important, the most important since May ’68,” said Gérard Grunberg, a political scientist at Sciences Po. “It’s not dead. It would be foolish to say so.”“This movement is very important, the most important since May ’68,” said Gérard Grunberg, a political scientist at Sciences Po. “It’s not dead. It would be foolish to say so.”
Still the number of protesters dropped sharply on Saturday from preceding weeks, with 38,600 taking part, compared with 66,000 last weekend and 282,000 in the initial protests on Nov. 17, the French Interior Ministry said. In Paris on Saturday, 2,000 took to the streets, compared with 4,000 last week.Still the number of protesters dropped sharply on Saturday from preceding weeks, with 38,600 taking part, compared with 66,000 last weekend and 282,000 in the initial protests on Nov. 17, the French Interior Ministry said. In Paris on Saturday, 2,000 took to the streets, compared with 4,000 last week.
The police detained 179 people in Paris, and there were scuffles when demonstrators attacked officers on the Champs-Élysées. One person died in a car accident during a Yellow Vests protest in Perpignan. And on Friday night, demonstrators decapitated an effigy of Mr. Macron in the southeastern city of Angoulême.The police detained 179 people in Paris, and there were scuffles when demonstrators attacked officers on the Champs-Élysées. One person died in a car accident during a Yellow Vests protest in Perpignan. And on Friday night, demonstrators decapitated an effigy of Mr. Macron in the southeastern city of Angoulême.
For now, the only way to glean hints of a potential direction for the Yellow Vests and who might capitalize on the movement is by watching the notably few political figures who have not been chased from France’s traffic roundabouts, the emblematic redoubts of the movement.For now, the only way to glean hints of a potential direction for the Yellow Vests and who might capitalize on the movement is by watching the notably few political figures who have not been chased from France’s traffic roundabouts, the emblematic redoubts of the movement.
One is François Ruffin, a documentary filmmaker turned maverick lawmaker, who was way ahead of the curve in expressing uncompromising rejection of Mr. Macron.One is François Ruffin, a documentary filmmaker turned maverick lawmaker, who was way ahead of the curve in expressing uncompromising rejection of Mr. Macron.
“You are hated, Mr. Macron,” he wrote in a much remarked-on opinion piece in the newspaper Le Monde just before the former investment banker’s election in May 2017.“You are hated, Mr. Macron,” he wrote in a much remarked-on opinion piece in the newspaper Le Monde just before the former investment banker’s election in May 2017.
Mr. Ruffin wrote then that he was merely reporting the sentiment he had picked up in the working-class neighborhoods of their mutual hometown, the depressed northern city of Amiens. “You are hated, you are hated, you are hated,” Mr. Ruffin wrote then.Mr. Ruffin wrote then that he was merely reporting the sentiment he had picked up in the working-class neighborhoods of their mutual hometown, the depressed northern city of Amiens. “You are hated, you are hated, you are hated,” Mr. Ruffin wrote then.
Mr. Ruffin sits in Parliament today as a member of the far-left party La France Insoumise, or France Unbowed, led by the longtime political firebrand Jean-Luc Mélenchon. But it is far from certain that Mr. Ruffin’s relative acceptance among some Yellow Vests portends an embrace of the left.Mr. Ruffin sits in Parliament today as a member of the far-left party La France Insoumise, or France Unbowed, led by the longtime political firebrand Jean-Luc Mélenchon. But it is far from certain that Mr. Ruffin’s relative acceptance among some Yellow Vests portends an embrace of the left.
Both the far left and the far right have been largely unwelcome in what remains of the dwindling Yellow Vest outposts — the government is clearing them out — on the roundabouts. Parties linked to both tendencies show polling gains from Yellow Vest supporters, but so far not significant ones.Both the far left and the far right have been largely unwelcome in what remains of the dwindling Yellow Vest outposts — the government is clearing them out — on the roundabouts. Parties linked to both tendencies show polling gains from Yellow Vest supporters, but so far not significant ones.
Their leaders have made supportive noises, notably Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right party formerly known as the National Front, but have stayed off the roundabouts for the most part. The National Front was renamed earlier this year as the Rassemblement National. Their leaders have made supportive noises, notably Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right party formerly known as the National Front, but have stayed off the roundabouts for the most part. The National Front was renamed this year as the Rassemblement National.
As for Mr. Macron and his minions, they have stayed away, too.As for Mr. Macron and his minions, they have stayed away, too.
In fact, beyond the Yellow Vests’ shared economic hardships and resentment, if there is one thing uniting this heterogeneous revolt of France’s unhappy, it is hatred of Mr. Macron.In fact, beyond the Yellow Vests’ shared economic hardships and resentment, if there is one thing uniting this heterogeneous revolt of France’s unhappy, it is hatred of Mr. Macron.
“Macron resign!” “Macron Louis XVI!” or “Macron, Come Out If You Are a Man!” and other slogans far less polite have punctuated Yellow Vest gatherings. A number of their encampments feature mock guillotines dedicated to the president.“Macron resign!” “Macron Louis XVI!” or “Macron, Come Out If You Are a Man!” and other slogans far less polite have punctuated Yellow Vest gatherings. A number of their encampments feature mock guillotines dedicated to the president.
One of Mr. Macron’s trademarks was scorn for predecessors who yielded to pressure from the streets. Now he has done exactly that in a series of concessions, though the Yellow Vests appear to be unimpressed by these “crumbs,” as they are deemed by some.One of Mr. Macron’s trademarks was scorn for predecessors who yielded to pressure from the streets. Now he has done exactly that in a series of concessions, though the Yellow Vests appear to be unimpressed by these “crumbs,” as they are deemed by some.
“They are ridiculous, and they are false,” Paul Marra, a Yellow Vest representative in Marseille, said on Thursday. “When you say you are going to raise the minimum wage, you don’t do it with smoke and mirrors.”“They are ridiculous, and they are false,” Paul Marra, a Yellow Vest representative in Marseille, said on Thursday. “When you say you are going to raise the minimum wage, you don’t do it with smoke and mirrors.”
Many of the Yellow Vests say they eschew politics and don’t even vote. The latest Yellow Vest demand — citizen referendums — bypasses conventional politics altogether. Yet it is abundantly clear that this ostensibly nonpolitical protest is actually political to its core.Many of the Yellow Vests say they eschew politics and don’t even vote. The latest Yellow Vest demand — citizen referendums — bypasses conventional politics altogether. Yet it is abundantly clear that this ostensibly nonpolitical protest is actually political to its core.
The leftist Mr. Ruffin brushed off any suggestion that he would profit politically from Yellow Vest approbation, or even that he wants to. “What happens to them now? It doesn’t interest me,” Mr. Ruffin declared in an interview in his spartan parliamentary office this week.The leftist Mr. Ruffin brushed off any suggestion that he would profit politically from Yellow Vest approbation, or even that he wants to. “What happens to them now? It doesn’t interest me,” Mr. Ruffin declared in an interview in his spartan parliamentary office this week.
Yet last week he embarked on a national tour of the roundabouts, a trip few have dared to attempt. The Yellow Vests’ national spokesmen — Mr. Marra and a counterpart in Toulouse, Benjamin Cauchy — are skeptical of the filmmaker, suggesting that even this novice politician is not virgin enough for them. Local press accounts suggest he was well received by the rank and file, though he did not put on a yellow vest. Yet last week he embarked on a national tour of the roundabouts, a trip few have dared to attempt. The Yellow Vests’ national spokesmen — Mr. Marra and a counterpart in Toulouse, Benjamin Cauchy — are skeptical of the filmmaker, suggesting that even this novice politician is not virgin enough for them. Local press accounts suggest he was well received, though he did not put on a yellow vest.
Wary as they may be of each other, there is clearly kinship, with sentiments that overlap.Wary as they may be of each other, there is clearly kinship, with sentiments that overlap.
“For me, it’s a miracle simply that it’s existed,’’ Mr. Ruffin said of the movement. ‘‘I’ve been watching this France of silent suffering for 20 years.”“For me, it’s a miracle simply that it’s existed,’’ Mr. Ruffin said of the movement. ‘‘I’ve been watching this France of silent suffering for 20 years.”
Mr. Ruffin rose to prominence in 2016 with “Merci Patron!” (“Thanks, Boss!”), a popular and cheeky Michael Moore-style sendup of Bernard Arnault, the head of the luxury group LVMH and the richest man in Europe. The film’s underlying edge of rage at the privileged resonated deeply then, and does so especially now.Mr. Ruffin rose to prominence in 2016 with “Merci Patron!” (“Thanks, Boss!”), a popular and cheeky Michael Moore-style sendup of Bernard Arnault, the head of the luxury group LVMH and the richest man in Europe. The film’s underlying edge of rage at the privileged resonated deeply then, and does so especially now.
Mr. Ruffin went to the same rigorous Jesuit high school as the president, La Providence. He didn’t know Mr. Macron then, though his younger sister was in the same class. They moved in different circles. Mr. Ruffin went to the same rigorous Jesuit high school as the president, La Providence. He didn’t know Mr. Macron then, though his younger sister was in the same class.
Mr. Ruffin stayed in scruffy Amiens and became the struggling editor of a countercultural leftist newspaper, Fakir; Mr. Macron went to Paris, piled up prestigious degrees, worked at the Rothschild bank, and quickly gained the favor of the powerful.Mr. Ruffin stayed in scruffy Amiens and became the struggling editor of a countercultural leftist newspaper, Fakir; Mr. Macron went to Paris, piled up prestigious degrees, worked at the Rothschild bank, and quickly gained the favor of the powerful.
“He’s the incarnation of the elites,” Mr. Ruffin said. “He’s spent 18 months exacerbating the tensions in society.”“He’s the incarnation of the elites,” Mr. Ruffin said. “He’s spent 18 months exacerbating the tensions in society.”
He acknowledged that Mr. Macron’s predecessors in the French presidency had also quickly become disliked figures, but asserted that with Mr. Macron it was worse. “There’s an air of contempt in his whole relationship to the people,’’ Mr. Ruffin said. ‘‘And people feel this.”He acknowledged that Mr. Macron’s predecessors in the French presidency had also quickly become disliked figures, but asserted that with Mr. Macron it was worse. “There’s an air of contempt in his whole relationship to the people,’’ Mr. Ruffin said. ‘‘And people feel this.”
The sense that France is out of joint, fiscally and economically, generating deep resentment among the country’s millions of have-nots, permeates Mr. Ruffin’s film.The sense that France is out of joint, fiscally and economically, generating deep resentment among the country’s millions of have-nots, permeates Mr. Ruffin’s film.
That same sense led him to become one of the earliest supporters of the Yellow Vests, calling for citizens to back the movement’s Nov. 17 protest more than two weeks before, in a video filmed in his kitchen in Amiens.That same sense led him to become one of the earliest supporters of the Yellow Vests, calling for citizens to back the movement’s Nov. 17 protest more than two weeks before, in a video filmed in his kitchen in Amiens.
“There’s an underlying anger,” Mr. Ruffin said in the Oct. 30 video. “How can we take our revenge? Say no to Macron!” he said. “There’s a sentiment of fiscal injustice that has penetrated this country!”“There’s an underlying anger,” Mr. Ruffin said in the Oct. 30 video. “How can we take our revenge? Say no to Macron!” he said. “There’s a sentiment of fiscal injustice that has penetrated this country!”
Two-and-a-half weeks later, the rage exploded on the streets. Two and a half weeks later, the rage exploded on the streets.
Last week in his office in Parliament, Mr. Ruffin warned that, whatever the political future of the Yellow Vests, the upheaval was not over.Last week in his office in Parliament, Mr. Ruffin warned that, whatever the political future of the Yellow Vests, the upheaval was not over.
“The institutional crisis isn’t finished yet,” he said. “There will be more developments. The French Revolution lasted six years. We haven’t heard from the banlieues yet,” the largely immigrant suburbs. “We haven’t heard from the unions yet.”“The institutional crisis isn’t finished yet,” he said. “There will be more developments. The French Revolution lasted six years. We haven’t heard from the banlieues yet,” the largely immigrant suburbs. “We haven’t heard from the unions yet.”
As for the Macron government, “they’ve given in because of what happened on the Champs-Élysées,’’ he said. ‘‘And I regret it. But that’s the way it happened.”As for the Macron government, “they’ve given in because of what happened on the Champs-Élysées,’’ he said. ‘‘And I regret it. But that’s the way it happened.”