Speaking with the French media outlet La Depeche, Benjamin Cauchy, a member of the “Yellow Vests” said that the movement wants to continue protests – although, he added, they need to be non-violent.
“The Yellow Vests wish an act IV next Saturday. But what matters to me is that this movement must become pacifist and non-violent again. A sit-in of 5,000 Yellow Vests on Capitol Square in Toulouse would have more impact on the public authorities than these images of violence. We must maintain the sympathy and support of 85% of the French”, he said.
Cauchy told BFMTV that the suspension of the fuel tax hike was not what they wanted – they sought a complete “cancellation of the increase in fuel and energy taxes, scheduled for 1 January 2019”.
“The French want the whole baguette, not just the crumbs”, he said.
"Yellow vests" protests, named after the reflective yellow vests that all French drivers are obliged to keep in their cars, have been ongoing nationwide since 17 November.
Peaceful demonstrations quickly evolved into violent riots, with lighting of fires, destruction of luxury boutiques and cars, and clashes with police. Some 4,500 police officers were deployed to deal with about 10,000 protesters in Paris alone.