France deploys 80,000 police to meet 32,000 'yellow vest' protesters
French police deployed some 80,000 officers around the country Saturday in response to the ninth straight weekend of "yellow vest" demonstrations protesting high taxes and cost of living in France, the administration of French President Emmanuel Macron, and more.
The police far outnumbered the estimated 32,000 demonstrators who turned out nationwide. Police again used tear gas and water cannons against activists in Paris after a subset of the mostly peaceful protesters reportedly threw stones, bottles, and paint.
Macron has promised a "national conversation" beginning next week to address the yellow vest concerns. Polling shows low expectations for the effectiveness of Macron's initiative and high support for the demonstrations at the far left and far right of France's political spectrum.