Extremists put centrism to the torch in France and online

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French President Emmanuel Macron has been dealing with sometimes violent protests from a populist movement known as the gilets jaunes (yellow vests).

The protesters were galvanised by a plan to raise fuel taxes, but they are still out in the streets even though the tax increase has been suspended. Now they're demanding, among other things, default on the public debt, exit from the European Union and Nato as well as less immigration.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on December 11, 2018, with the headline Extremists put centrism to the torch in France and online. Subscribe