The French authorities fear a coup d'état.
French authorities are concerned about attempted coups by members of the "yellow vest" movement, writes Le Figaro.
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| The protests in France were accompanied by clashes between protesters and police, riots, car burning, and vandalism of shops and banks. |
The reason the Elysian Palace is worried is that during Saturday's demonstration, the protesters intended to march towards the presidential residence.
Security agencies have warned authorities about "people in yellow vests" increasingly spreading death threats and urging people to carry weapons.
"These are coup plotters. This is an attempted coup," a source in the French government told the publication.
According to the newspaper, employees working for a French ministry received instructions not to show up at work over the weekend.
Outraged by the fuel tax increase on January 1, 2019, and the subsequent rise in gasoline prices, French citizens took to the streets in nationwide protests starting on November 17. The protest movement, known as the "Yellow Vests," was initially composed of drivers wearing yellow vests as part of their work uniforms. The main demand of the "Yellow Vests" was a reduction in gasoline prices. However, later, participants noted that they opposed all the new taxes constantly being imposed in the country.
The protests in France were accompanied by clashes between protesters and police, riots, car burning, and vandalism of shops and banks. Four people died and hundreds were injured during the demonstrations.
