Attempts by the French government to negotiate with the “yellow vest” movement responsible for weeks of protests over taxes and the high cost of living turned into a fiasco Friday after just two representatives turned up for a meeting with the prime minister and one immediately walked out.

The failed talks came on the eve of a planned rally in Paris of thousands of demonstrators, one week after a violent protest left the Champs-Elysees in shambles.

Prime Minister Edouard Philippe had invited eight representatives of the protesters, known as “yellow vests” for their wearing of the high-visibility yellow jackets which every motorist is required to carry in his car, for the talks in a bid to take heat out of a revolt that has galvanised opposition to President Emmanuel Macron’s liberal economic policies.

But only two turned up for the talks at the prime minister’s office, with one walking out after being told he could not invite TV cameras in to broadcast the encounter live to the nation.

Asked later by reporters what his demands were, Jason Herbert said: “We want our dignity back and we want to be able to live from our work, which is absolutely not the case today….
Source: Seychelles News Agency