Calls to protest against rising fuel are abounding. And some want to erect the yellow safety vest in the symbol.
Protesters of all occasions had already made it a visible asset, during parades in the streets, during factory blockades, prison. This time, the yellow vest could, like the red cap, take a more symbolic, political value. The movement of anger resulting from the rise in fuel prices has chosen to federate behind the chasuble.
The initiators of several calls for a major event on November 17 are determined to make this safety vest which made of reflective fabric is a sign of rallying between motorists disappointed by the government’s desire to introduce a new increase in taxes on January 1, on gasoline and diesel.
“A little color code to show that you agree”
Difficult to determine the origin of the evocation of this accessory as a symbol of popular grumbling. In a video broadcast on 23 or 24 October and since become viral, a man calls for blocking “for diesel, for taxes for everything” and is addressed to “those who agree to the movement”: ” We all have a yellow jacket in the car, leave it prominently on the dashboard all week, until 17 “. This is for him a “little color code to show that you agree with us, with the movement.”
The following days, other Internet users follow suit, making a similar call to put this safety vest at the front of his vehicle. All have been in focus the big event, scheduled in two weeks.
If dozens of Internet users have shared photos of similar initiatives on social networks, it is difficult to quantify the resonance of this call, which is mingled with the much larger one of a rally on November 17th. Some authors of these tweets claim to make “no political choice”. Others are undeniably politicized, even inset.
There are messages of support for the initiative published by a secretary of the National Assembly in the Doubs, or his counterpart in the 95.
This popular discontent seems conducive to political recovery. An instrumentalization is denounced at the end of October by Benjamin, the spokesman of the government. In his viewfinder: The National Rally and Standing France. Both have effectively supported the multitude of blocking calls. “We will join the challenge that rises,” hammered on October 26 Marine Le Pen.
Recoveries on the right and on the left
On RTL this Monday morning, Nicolas called, in particular, to “put his yellow vest on the windshield” and proposes that, the 17, motorists honk “on all crossroads in France for the Elyse hears anger legitimate French “. A member of his party, Franck Buhler, author of a video called to protest, viewed millions of times, even if it is not the initiative of the movement-helped to popularize it, reminds Release.
But these two parties on the far right are not the only ones to support this discontent. The unassuming deputy François Ruffin also took the issue, wishing to “understand” the essence of the movement, rather than to determine if “facts” were at the origin. A problem shared by Jean-Luc during a meeting in Lille. Another parliamentarian, Jean Lassalle, broadcast a call to the event on Twitter, wearing a video of one of these vests.
Some would like to see in this movement, beyond the color code, similarities with that of the “Bonnets Rouges”. But at the moment, it seems difficult to perceive in this frameless absence of spokespersons, of structure and of union support, the weight reached by that of the Bretons, left five years ago in the war against the porticoes of environmental taxes.
400 events recorded
In fact, while the red hats were largely worn by the mayor Christian, no emblematic personality really emerges from the movement that federates the road users and has largely formed from local initiatives. The author of a protest video sent to the government and seen more than 5 million times, Jacqueline, who could have taken on this role of the media spokesperson, does not even mention the wearing of this vest.
For the moment, calls to the rally are therefore trying, but only at the local level. A map, published on the site Blockage November 17 lists 400 to date. Unsurprisingly, all planned events are illustrated by… a yellow vest and the creators of the site advise participants wearing the accessory during the event.
Proof of taking into account the grumbling, the policy is in any case of reassuring. “No, the police will not confiscate the yellow vests with reflective materials on November 17!”, She tweeted, to put an end to some rumors of conspiracy.