Share

Macron vows to stay course on climate after France protests

Paris - French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday tried to take the heat out of mass anti-government protests, saying he had heard the anger and would seek to bolster people's spending power but refusing to change course in trying to make France greener.

The 40-year-old centrist acknowledged that many struggling households felt penalised by years of rising fuel taxes, the spark for road blockades and demonstrations over the past 10 days.

Macron offered minor concessions, saying he would propose a mechanism to adjust the tax increases if prices were also being pushed up by rising oil prices internationally - as they have been for much of this year.

And he called for a three-month national consultation to draw up a roadmap for accelerating France's transition away from fossil fuels, which he insisted would remain his overall objective.

"What I've taken from these last few days is that we shouldn't change course, because it is the right one and necessary," he told lawmakers at the presidential palace in Paris.

In an hour-long speech, Macron repeated several times that he had understood the anger expressed by hundreds of thousands of people who have taken to the streets wearing high-visibility yellow jackets this month.

He conceded that many French people felt that taxes were "imposed from above" and promised to accelerate the work of the government to lighten the load for working families and cut public spending.

Environment Minister Francois de Rugy was to meet members of the movement later Tuesday, he told Parliament.

'Who's going to pay?' 

But beyond fuel taxes - set to increase again in January - some of the most frequent complaints from the "yellow vests" is Macron's perceived elitism and his pro-business policies.

"I have seen, like many French people, the difficulties for people who have to drive a lot and have problems making ends meet at the end of the month," he said.

"I believe very profoundly that we can transform this anger into the solution."

Acknowledging that protesters worry about surviving "the end of the month" in contrast to his government's desire to stave off "the end of the world", he promised: "We are going to deal with both."

His comments may not be enough to placate the protesters.

They have already called another day of protests for December 1, after clashes that saw barricades and tear gas on the Champs-Elysees in Paris last Saturday.

Many participants have called for Macron to reimpose a wealth tax on high earners, repealed after the former investment banker took office last year.

"Macron stays his course, so do we!" a group of around 50 protesters chanted Tuesday at a roundabout in Tregueux, western France.

"He's found a solution for saving the environment and being more energy efficient, but who's going to pay for it? Us, like always," said Benoit Julou, a 44-year-old real estate agent at the protest.

Cutting down on nuclear 

Macron also used the speech on France's energy transition to announce a programme for reducing France's reliance on nuclear power.

The government will shut down 14 of France's 58 nuclear reactors by 2035, with between four and six closed by 2030, he announced.

The total includes the previously announced shutdown of France's two oldest reactors in Fessenheim, eastern France.

Macron said Fessenheim, which came online in 1977 and is still operating despite the plant's programmed 40-year lifespan, would now close in mid-2020.

"Reducing the role of nuclear energy does not mean renouncing it," Macron said, not least because it will help France meet its carbon emission targets as part of the landmark 2015 Paris climate accord.

France relies on nuclear power for 72% of its electricity needs. The government wants to reduce this to 50% by 2035 by developing more renewable energy sources.

Macron said wind power electricity output would triple by 2030, and solar output would increase fivefold, helped by a boost for renewable energy development to seven to €8bn a year from €5bn currently.

He also announced that France would close its remaining four coal-fired power plants bt 2022 as part of anti-pollution efforts.

* Sign up to Fin24's top news in your inbox: SUBSCRIBE TO FIN24 NEWSLETTER

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Rand - Dollar
18.94
-0.2%
Rand - Pound
23.91
-0.1%
Rand - Euro
20.43
+0.2%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.34
+0.1%
Rand - Yen
0.13
-0.2%
Platinum
910.50
+1.5%
Palladium
1,016.25
+1.4%
Gold
2,221.48
+1.2%
Silver
24.88
+1.0%
Brent Crude
86.09
-0.2%
Top 40
68,346
+1.0%
All Share
74,536
+0.8%
Resource 10
57,251
+2.8%
Industrial 25
103,936
+0.6%
Financial 15
16,502
-0.1%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Company Snapshot
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE
Government tenders

Find public sector tender opportunities in South Africa here.

Government tenders
This portal provides access to information on all tenders made by all public sector organisations in all spheres of government.
Browse tenders