French ‘yellow vest’ protesters block border crossings with Spain

ACTIVISTS with a French tax protest movement have blocked roads at several points on the French-Spanish border amidst ongoing anti-government demonstrations in the country.
Protesters from the ‘yellow vest’ movement cut off roads leading to the Spanish border towns of Irun in the Basque Country and La Jonquera in Cataluña yesterday (Saturday).
Traffic including lorries were prevented from crossing into Spain while the blockades were staged.
One incident saw a 60-year-old Spanish lorry driver arrested in connection with a scuffle with protesters and police officers on the French side of the border.
The blockades come as ‘yellow vest’ activists, so-called because of the hi-vis clothes they wear while demonstrating, cut roads throughout France and staged protests in Paris this weekend.
Demonstrations began over France’s decision to hike duties on diesel which the government has since backtracked on.
The movement, which has no hierarchical structure or obvious leader, has since grown to become broadly opposed to the economic policies of French President Emmanuel Macron.
Macron has sought to reform France through tax and spending cuts which has led protesters to dub him the ‘President of the rich’.
Demonstrations in Paris turned violent recently and riot police were put out on the streets of the French capital. Cars were left torched and shop fronts smashed following the riots.