Thousands of Frenchmen — angry over President Macron’s imposition of a carbon tax meant to bring France into compliance with the Paris Climate Accord — rioted Saturday, protesting the higher costs on fuel.
Macron has called the higher fuel prices a necessity for weening France off of fossil fuels and funding new green energy programs.
The protests quickly turned violent, with at least one protester killed, and 19 more injured. It’s the eighth day of protests against the tax.
Below are some of the most shocking clips of the violent protests:
French President Macron is accusing the protests of being organized by the right-wing National Assembly Leader Marine Le Pen.
More violent clashes between police and protesters:
The AP reports that the new tax comes at the same time as another EU-based fuel tax:
The anger is mainly over a hike in the diesel fuel tax, which has gone up seven euro cents per liter (nearly 30 U.S. cents per gallon) and will keep climbing in coming years, according to Transport Minister Elisabeth Borne. The tax on gasoline is also to increase four euro cents. Gasoline currently costs about 1.64 euros a liter in Paris ($7.06 a gallon), slightly more than diesel.