Yellow Vests movement: the French protests inspiring a new wave of unrest

A new wave of protests in France, drawing up to 800,000 people, is inspired by the "Yellow Vests" movement, which challenged President Emmanuel Macron's pro-market agenda between 2018 and 2019. The original movement began on November 17, 2018, as a reaction to a proposed carbon tax on fuel, escalating into a national revolt against the cost of living. Protests became violent, with clashes on the Champs-Élysées and police using rubber bullets that caused severe injuries to dozens of civilians. The movement waned after Macron pledged over 10 billion euros in tax breaks and bonuses for low-income workers. It also pushed for a Citizen Initiative Referendum, a direct democracy mechanism that was not adopted but influenced later presidential campaigns.