The key facts

  • The Place de la Concorde has been cordoned off by police; the rally was not authorized by the prefecture
  • Participants face fines of €135
  • An authorized demonstration from the Place de la République is moving toward the Place de la Nation

Cordon and fines

Paris police have set up a cordon on the Place de la Concorde, blocking Yellow Vest activists there. The report comes from TASS, citing its correspondent; the data is reported by Gazeta.Ru. Police officers confirmed that the rally had not been authorized by the prefecture and that all its participants would be fined €135.

The protesters' demands

The protesters said they would not leave the square until the evening: they are sitting on the ground with placards, demanding the right to protest, reduced funding for law enforcement agencies in favor of education, healthcare and social needs, as well as higher taxes for the super-rich and large corporations.

A parallel authorized rally

At the same time, another demonstration is taking place in the city — this one authorized by the authorities. Several thousand of its participants are moving from the Place de la République toward the Place de la Nation. Earlier, due to the protests, the Eiffel Tower was closed to visitors.

Context of the unrest

Mass protests in France have been going on since late September. First, schools and universities were blockaded by schoolchildren and students dissatisfied with the condition of the buildings, timetables and the lack of teachers in a number of subjects; in October, trade unions joined them, demanding, among other things, higher wages.