French President Emmanuel Macron has finally addressed months of protests by the so-called “yellow jackets” by holding a press conference and speaking about his plans to help meet some of their demands.
The most significant promise made by the President includes a tax reform, which will see a tax cut of ideally 5 billion euro go to lower and middle-class working families. Moreover, the President has also stated that there will be more retirement funds set aside.
Macron is responding to months and months of protests and conflicts in Paris by the anti-government gilet jaunes. The protesters are attacking the President for his attempts to “liberalize” the economy of France by making it more business-centered and overhauling the welfare system. Part of that policy was to also decrease taxes for France’s richest people, which also angered protestors.
The President supposedly came up with this plan after meeting with voters directly and listening to their suggestions for three months as part of a special program. At present it is not known whether this reform alone will be enough to put an end to the protests, nor whether it will even get the government’s approval.
