French PM suspends planned fuel tax increases for six-month period

Edouard Philippe said the anger among the populace was apparent . — Reuters pic

PARIS, Dec 4 — The French government today suspended planned increases in three taxes on fuel for a six-month period starting Jan.1 in response to nationwide protests against high pump prices and living costs, Prime Minister Edouard Philippe announced.

“This anger, you’d have to be deaf or blind not to see it or hear it,” Philippe said in an address.

“The French who have donned yellow vests want taxes to drop, and work to pay. That’s also what we want. If I didn’t manage to explain it, if the ruling majority didn’t manage to convince the French, then something must change.” — Reuters