Title: Why are the ‘yellow vests’ protesting in France? | Emmanuel Macron | Al Jazeera
Headings: Why are the ‘yellow vests’ protesting in France?
OPINION
Why are the ‘yellow vests’ protesting in France?
Misleading the electorate
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Macron’s disdain for the poor
The protests are not rejecting climate change action

Content: However, it didn’t take long for his supporters to realise that his “reformist”, “new world” image was nothing more than an illusion. Macron’s failure to bring about change should not have surprised anyone. Even though he seemed “young and new”, he was part of the establishment. He had served as the minister of the economy, industry and digital affairs from 2014 to 2016 under Francois Hollande – he was in charge of implementing the former president’s infamous Labour Law reform, which caused widespread protests across the country. Before that he was a Rothschild investment banker. Once elected, Macron showed his true colours almost immediately. He decided to amend the wealth tax – known in France as “ISF” – by narrowing it to a tax on real estate assets, rather than covering all worldwide assets over the value of 1.3m euros. This led to him being swiftly labelled the “president of the rich”. Macron’s disdain for the poor
On top of making controversial policy decisions that favoured powerful corporations and rich individuals, Macron also repeatedly demonstrated his unfamiliarity with – and at times disdain for – ordinary people struggling to survive in the country’s increasingly harsh economic environment. In 2016 while he was the minister of economy, for example, Macron was confronted by angry trade unionists and was recorded telling one young man: “