French government fears coup
French authorities are concerned about attempts to organize a coup by participants in the "yellow vest" movement, Le Figaro newspaper wrote.
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| Protests in France have been accompanied by clashes between protesters and police, riots, burning cars, and the vandalism of shops and banks. |
The Elysian Palace is worried because during the action on Saturday, protesters intended to advance towards the presidential palace.
Security agencies have warned the authorities about the growing spread of death threats and calls for people to carry weapons by "men in yellow vests".
“These are coup plotters. This is a coup attempt,” a source in the French government told the publication.
According to the newspaper, employees working for a French ministry were instructed not to appear at work on weekends.
Angry over the increase in fuel tax from January 1, 2019 and the subsequent increase in gasoline prices, French people took to the streets in nationwide protests from November 17. The protest movement was called "Yellow Vests" because its initial core consisted of drivers wearing yellow vests as their work uniform. The main demand of the "Yellow Vests" was to reduce gasoline prices. However, the participants later noted that they were against all new taxes that were continuously introduced in the country.
The protests in France have been accompanied by clashes between protesters and police, riots, burning cars, and the destruction of shops and banks. Four people have died and hundreds have been injured during the protests.
