by Oliver JJ Lane, Breitbart:

Anti-government protesters turned out in Paris and other French cities for the seventh Saturday running, as activists called for direct democracy — to take power out of the hands of political elite — and protested against the mainstream media.

As in previous weeks, many protestors carried placards with the abbreviation ‘R.I.C.’ — “Citizens’ Initiative Referendum”, a demand for popular referendums that would be automatically triggered by any referendum calling for a change in government policy getting 700,000 signatures.

Macron Had Helicopter on Standby to Escape Presidential Palace During Protests https://t.co/qOu4EQKnzv

— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) 14 December 2018

Switzerland already has a system of citizen’s initiative referendum, and Italy has a similar system. French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe said last weekend the government was considering debating such referendums in the future.

The number of demonstrators out was fewer than in recent weeks, but more protests are expected in Paris on New Year’s Eve.

The route of Saturday’s march took hundreds of protestors to the doors of mainstream French television stations, which the Yellow Vests accuse of having aligned themselves with President Macron against the French people.

France: Anti-Macron Protesters Pushed Off Street by Water Cannon, Told to Remove Yellow Vests https://t.co/rPk3MOy9wQ

— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) 15 December 2018

Demonstrators shouted “Journalists — collaborationists!” and threw stones reports the Associated Press. Police pushed back protestors from the tourist favourite Champs Elysee, where clashes have taken place on recent weekends.

The protests originally began in November over green policies of President Emmanual Macron, who was moving to wean France off automobiles by making buying fuel unaffordable.

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