Yellow Vests protest has been coming for years, activist says

France has seen three weeks of nationwide ‘Yellow Vests’ protests over rising taxes and the cost of living. The protests began with the announcement of a fuel tax, but some say it was a long time coming.

Xavier Renou, an activist and member of the left-wing France Unbowed party, has joined and helped organise the Yellow Vest movement in the town of Beaumont-sur-Oise. RFI/Michael Woods

The Yellow Vest movement has drawn people with widely different political views, including many who have never taken part in protests before.

Some critics of the liberal economic policies of successive governments say discontent has been in the making for a long time.

Xavier Renou, a political activist and member of the left-wing France Unbowed party, has joined and helped organise the movement in the town of Beaumont-sur-Oise.