United States President Donald Trump said he is ‘glad’ that people in Paris have reached a conclusion on skyrocketing fuel prices, reiterating that the Paris Agreement is ‘fatally flawed.’
Trump’s statement comes after a resounding victory for a people’s movement in the land where ‘liberty, equality, and fraternity’ is the nation’s motto. The French government is likely to suspend fuel price hike, according to reports, that was the trigger for the protests in the country.
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“I am glad that my friend @EmmanuelMacron and the protestors in Paris have agreed with the conclusion I reached two years ago. The Paris Agreement is fatally flawed because it raises the price of energy for responsible countries while whitewashing some of the worst polluters…. ….in the world. I want clean air and clean water and have been making great strides in improving America’s environment. But American taxpayers – and American workers – shouldn’t pay to clean up others countries’ pollution,” tweeted Trump.
The ‘yellow vest’ protests have been raging in France since mid-November against the rising costs of fuel in the country, with protests turning violent in Paris on Sunday. Dozens of people have been detained so far, while scores have been injured in the clashes, including law enforcement officials.
French President Emmanuel Macron, who had earlier slammed the protestors for unleashing violence and bringing life to a standstill in the country, extended an olive branch later by requesting political leaders to meet with the organisers of the protests this week to contain the aggravating situation. The Macron-led government had also mulled the imposition of an emergency in the state to hold back the violence.
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Around 36,000 people took to the streets on Sunday to protest against the increase in fuel prices, according to CNN. Iconic landmarks like the Arc de Triomphe in the French capital were defaced with graffiti during the protests.
On Monday, students showed their support for the ‘yellow vests’ by blocking the entrance to over a hundred schools across France in protests against education reform that came into effect in September.
Since January, diesel prices have increased by around 23 per cent, while petrol is retailed at 15 per cent higher costs. The prices are expected to rise further next month if the moratorium is not announced, as further hikes are scheduled to come into effect on January 1.
(ANI)