Some media coverage continues to underplay the Yellow Vest protests, which quickly evolved beyond economics.
The row over the yellow vests has exacerbated the bad blood between the French and Italian governments, with the coalition in Rome repeatedly accusing Mr Macron of failing to shoulder responsibility for the migrant crisis and of ordering asylum seekers to be rounded up in France and pushed back to Italy.
The controversy between Italy and France demonstrates that the Yellow Vest revolt is not limited to French protests over lower fuel taxes, higher tax on the wealthy, and demands for minimum wage hikes. The Yellow Vests are now being dubbed part of a “worldwide pattern of populist revolt.”
For some time, the so-called “populist” movement has been the voice of advocacy for the rule of law and the freedom of speech. It is opposed to open-door immigration and the welcome of economic migrants, to say nothing of jihadist migrants.
Along with the obvious upheavals, an inevitable result of the implementation of the globalist utopian vision is the ever-present threat of jihad terror. Following the Strasbourg Christmas market attack in Paris, Yellow Vests began planning protests in Paris and in other locations in France.
Matteo Salvini has now stoked the Yellow Vest movement in his declaration: “I support honest citizens who protest against a president who governs against his own people.” Salvini is describing not just Macron, but globalist leaders everywhere. The Yellow Vests are a movement of defense.
Macron’s rebuttal was to reference the “populist movement” as the rise of “leprosy.”
“Keep out of yellow vest revolt, France warns Italy, after populist ministers offer support to movement”, The Telegraph, January 8, 2019:
France has accused Italy of interfering in its affairs after the populist government in Rome, which rode to power last year on a wave of anti-establishment sentiment, offered to help the “yellow vest” movement.
Matteo Salvini and Luigi Di Maio, who are both deputy prime ministers, gave enthusiastic encouragement to the gilets jaunes, whose protests have turned increasingly violent in Paris and other cities.
While condemning violent acts, Mr Salvini, who is also interior minister, said he supported “honest citizens who protest against a president who governs against his people.”
Mr Di Maio, who is the head of the Five Star Movement, offered the protesters the use of his party’s Rousseau system, an internet platform that allows supporters to vote for candidates and propose legislation, eyeing the prospect of the gilets jaunes becoming a nascent political party.
That earned him a sharp rebuke from Nathalie Loiseau, France’s minister for European affairs, who tweeted: “France refrains from giving lessons to Italy. Monsieurs Salvini and Di Maio should first put their own house in order.”
Speaking in Brussels on Tuesday, she added: “The priority for the Italian government is to look after the well-being of the Italian people. I’m not sure what being interested in the yellow vests has to do with the well-being of the Italians.”
The row intensified when Mr Di Maio accused the French of hypocrisy by calling for Italy to butt out of their business.
“Maybe (Ms Loiseau) forgets that her president compared us to leprosy when talking about our government,” he said.
In June, Emmanuel Macron compared Eurosceptic, populist movements to a disease that needed to be resisted by moderates.
“You can see them rise a bit like leprosy all across Europe, in countries where we thought that it would be impossible to see them again,” he said….
Renate says
God bless Salvini! Macron deserves to be sent to the guillotine.
Victoria says
The resistance against global domination is the concern of all leaders of all nations. It will take the combined efforts of all Nations who want to retain their sovereignty to stand together and stop this One world Order abomination. Bravo Italy, Poland and Hungary.
ninetyninepct says
Trudeau has signed up Canada as member of the UN Parliament. He is committing treason by selling out Canada. Trudeau is a liar. Trudeau commits treason. Trudeau is dangerous. He is NOT the pretty boy you think he is. What you see with his expensive custom suits is NOT what he is. He absolutely hates Canada, free speech and democracy. He claims to be a Christian but routinely preaches and prays in mosques. He also uses taxpayer money to fund Hamas and the Islamic Relief terrorist support organization.
Yellow Vest is starting in Canada.
John says
1000% CORRECT Renata
John says
Renate
Westman says
Despite the French Revolution and the German occupation of WWII, the two-tier vestige of royal fiat lives on in France where leaders assume the role of Napoleonic aristocrats instead of representatives for the citizens. Such government prevents the citizens from defending themselves against economic and ethnic aggression while enthusiastically promoting ideas that benefit itself.
The people are running out of bread and the government replies, “let them eat taxes!”
theanimalthatthereforeiam3 says
Very well said!
lebel says
“Along with the obvious upheavals, an inevitable result of the implementation of the globalist utopian vision is the ever-present threat of jihad terror. Following the Strasbourg Christmas market attack in Paris, Yellow Vests began planning protests in Paris and in other locations in France.”
This is not true, yellowvests were already protesting in various locations across France before the attacks. There is absolutely no link or causality. The yellowvest is a populist movement and has been using violence to attain its goals. No one at jihadwatch seems to mind violence in France as long as white non-Muslims are involved. Replace the rioters with French citizens of arab origin and you have an automatic jihad.
Guy Forester says
Lebel,
I am also concerned about the seemingly senseless violence of some of the gilets jaunes. However, do not be quick to fix the blame on these protestors. My experiences in life, and well documented instances in various places (Seattle, Los Angeles), show that instigators that want to discredit the movement, or take it over, or take advantage of the situation for personal gain, will go to these events, seek to blend in with the group, but then start the violence. Often, the original, usually nonviolent (although loud and disruptive at times) protestors get sandwiched between the agitators and the police. The agitators then hurl stuff at the police, who then respond with force against the group in the middle, that did not attack the police.
I have been there and watched this unfold on several occasions. It is predictable. The police fall for it most of the time. The nonviolent protestors should know better but do not pay attention.
lebel says
Hello Guy,
Fine, I agree in general but there is one problem here: do we hear enough (or anything) from the Gilets Jaunes in terms of condemning this violence?
b.a. freeman says
lebel, most of the time the yellow vests are *individuals* who happen to know one another; they are not organized, and when an individual stands up to make a statement, nobody reports on it, because he is a nobody. the lack of an “official” yellow-vest statement condemning violence does not mean that “white nationalists” (racists) are rioting in the streets; it means that the media will not take the time to interview the thousands of individuals who are involved, leaving them voiceless.
i am american, not french, so i don’t personally know any yellow-vest folks. perhaps there really is an official organization. if so, and U are aware of it, could U post a link to their website?
gravenimage says
lebel’s implication that there was no Jihad terror in France before the Yellow Vests showed up is of course absurd.
FYI says
It is surprising Macron has not made himself Emperor of France,given his delusions of Napoleonic grandeur and Jovian power{at one stage calling himself Jupiter}
Emperor Manu
Carolyne says
Macron has “Small man syndrome.” Napoleon was also a little guy. But no matter what he does he will not ever be taller, much to his frustration.
Marigold says
Macron is a far left wimp! Full stop! The French people have no one but themselves to blame for the state their country is in.Once known as the Church’s big sister the state of Christianity there is pathetic so they will get the governments they deserve.Lourdes is the only place where French people are polite to visitors because they depend on the faithful and tourists for their living. If there are French people who are non violent but genuinely concerned about the state of their country then they should be concerned that the populist movement does not get out of hand in France and allow the fascists take over.The French Revolution should serve as lesson for them.
Caro!yn H says
I have been to France a couple of times and my experience was that they are rude to visitors, especially Americans, even though we have saved their butts a couple of times. I have no intention of ever returning. It is dirty, smells bad, overrun with barbarians and the French are rude. No more money from me.