French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe will announce the climbdown today, according to a government source, after escalating violence and public anger against Mr Macron’s economic reforms caused the the Government to lose control over its people. The announcment would mark Mr Macron’s first significant U-turn on a major policy since taking power in 2017.The Yellow Vest protests posed the most formidable challenge yet to Mr Macron’s presidency.The revolt caught Mr Macron by surprise, when the yellow vests torched cars, looted boutiques and smashed up private homes and cafes in some of Paris’s most affluent neighbourhoods.
Roughly 10,000 tear gas canisters and stun grenades were fired as well as water canons over the weekend, as security forces struggled to take back control.
Paris police said 412 people were arrested on Saturday during the worst clashes in the capital for years.
Three people have been killed and 263 people were injured, including 23 police officers since protests broke out more than two weeks ago.
READ MORE: Will Paris protests topple Macron?
The so-called “yellow vests” protests, which erupted on November 17, were focused on denouncing a squeeze on household spending brought about by Mr Macron’s taxes on diesel, which he says are necessary to combat climate change and protect the environment.
Emmanuel Macron said the fuel tax increases were part of his effort to combat climate change, wanting to persuade French drivers to exchange diesel-fuelled cars for less polluting models.
And on Saturday he would not deviate from his policy goals.
However, they have since evolved into a bigger, general anti-Macron uprising, with many criticising the president for pursuing policies they claim favour the richest members of French society.
Protests in Paris on Saturday turned particularly violent, with the Arc de Triomphe defaced and avenues off the capital’s Champs Elysees suffering damage.
Protestors had scrawled “Macron resign” and “The yellow vests will triumph” on the Arc de Triomphe during the clashes.
The demonstrations were given the “yellow vest” tag due to the fluorescent jackets kept in all vehicles in France.
Protests are estimated to have cost millions to the economy.
The French president cancelled his trip to Serbia on Monday to instead focus his attention on solving matters at home.
Mr Macron and Mr Philippe’s approval ratings hit new lows as the “yellow vest” protests gathered pace, according to an Ifop-Fiducial poll for Paris Match and Sud Radio published on Tuesday.
The Frech president’s approval rating fell to 23 percent in the poll conducted late last week, down six points on the previous month.
Mr Philippe’s rating fell 10 points to 26 percent.
The president’s score matches the low charted by his predecessor Francois Hollande in late 2013, according to Paris Match.
Mr Hollande was then considered to be the least popular leader in modern French history.