Protests in France are population movement

-Agil bey, the whole world is watching closely the French debelopments. To be frank, the goings-on came as a surprise for analysts. First, they said it was due to oil prices. Then the government retreated but the situation did not change for the better. Yellows vests went on protesting, they demanded resignation of the government. In all probability, there is a subsurface part of the iceberg, and we hope to get down at the bottom. What"s happening in France in reality? What are protesters willing? Why are they so aggressive?

-In fact, the French developments are not related to rise in fuel prices. The authorities tried to retreat first but ever growing number of protesters put forward a new demand. The essential point to remember is that taxes in France are highest as compared with other European countries. Following Macron"s advent to power, tax duties have been raised, even at higher rates as compared with previous years.

It has to be kept in mind that the aid to the unemployed (accommodation payment) will be rendered at the expense of taxpayers employed, even taxes from pensioners.

At present, taxes are levied from more than73% of the population, all of them oppose the Macron power. Even worse, earlier no tuition fees have ever been paid, just a symbolic Euro150-200, maximum 300 for registration. Now a figure stands at Euro 2000. Even lycee laws have changed. In short, these measures heavily affected all spheres of country"s life. Irrespective of age and level of education the French are guided by protest sentiments, from this follows a scale of actions. When retracing the Russian and post-Soviet media one can come to the conclusion that these protests are stirred up from the outside. However, neither political parties nor foreign forces are involved in the process but people proper. Protesters demand to reduce taxes, cease levying high taxes from wages, improve living standards of the population up to the previous level, decrease tuition fees of local and foreign students, as well as amend a law on simplifying dismissal of employees enforced after Macron"s advent to power.

In a word, the developments started after the said amendments. Citizens are tired of all this. In and of themselves, the French are revolutionary, one of the most protesting nations in Europe and worldwide. The point is about anarchy but not very broad. It is common for them to oppose the law. Mass media display destructions only but exactly this way. Car arsons, broken glass of shop windows - all largely handwork of police, and media avail of all these. In the main, citizens are protesting peacefully, by turns, they close down roads, and all these are normal. Meetings and actions of protest are taking place every Saturday not only in Paris but entire France as well.

Another large scale action is expected to take place this Saturday because the last statement of Macron caused protesters" discontent. He promised to make amendments in the laws; however, this does not mean that protesters will be grateful for small favors.

-France is criticized for hard-hitting developments in the course of protest actions. Are these actions really accompanied by police violence, breach of freedom of meetings and goverrnmernt"s meddling in the process, arrests?

-Yes, there are arrests. Ido not follow up the Azerbaijani media; yet, information of this sort is not stirred up here. In a sense, arrests care normal. Should developments of French type take place in Azerbaijan, a country with no democracy, there would occur destructions, pillage of shops, deaths, etc. Nothing of the kind happens in France. An elderly woman is said to have died in the south of the country; however, this is unconfirmed information. As for arrests, this is a factor that irritates people. There are citizens that voice their protest against arrests. But nobody is arrested by slander. They are controlled, 2-3 days interrogated. As a matter of fact, arrests are due to anarchists. Human rights are respected in this country. Even ordinary people sometimes insult policemen who may arrest them. Let"s see how these developments will end.

-Whar are they going to do in France? It is an external provocation or the French trying to draw necessary conclusions?

-As I have noted above, the protest is the protest of the nation. Any foreign provacation is out of question. Meetings take place every Saturday, roads are closed. It takes 3-4 hours from citizens to get to the capital of France. In a country like Azerbaijan it is impossible, and no appropriate conditions may occur. It is possible for the French authorities to remedy the situation without any violence. They are aware of consequences. Given that, the government retreated, and will act in this manner if needed. The French are willing to comply with a system they deserve, so they are pressing the point.

-Will Macron resign?

-I don"think Mactron will resign though the probability remains. At any rate, changes are expected to take place. Some minister or top official may resign as a protest against Macron"s policy. But I don"t think that Macron will resign though some amendments will be made in the legislation. It is commonly known that the French are men of principle. If demands are not satisfied, protests will continue and no one can stop them.

-Will these developments damage France"s economy? How is the country going to get out of the situation? Are other countries in position to avail of the situation and try to weaken the country?

-The current goings-on are taken as something ordinary, unimportant for France. It should be noted that France is strong from economic standpoint. I don"t think that foreign states are capable of taking advantage of the situation. In a short while, France is sure to get home and back to normal, and country"s living standards will be much better.