Time Magazine 17 Dec 2018 (US Edition)

IN NOVEMBER, FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL Macron stood under the Arc de Triomphe in Paris and told world leaders on the centennial of World War I that they needed to work together to solve global problems. Less than a month later, the French leader is trying to find the right phrase to unite his own citizens amid perhaps the worst street violence in Paris in 50 years. The gilet jaune or Yellow Vest protests that erupted in the French capital and across the country in November and December risk torpedoing Macrons young presidency and threatening his reform efforts, leaving him open to challenges by far-right and far-left rivals.

Named for the high-visibility vests they wear to demonstrations, the Yellow Vests took to the streets for a third consecutive weekend on Dec. 12. Although Macron activated an additional 4,600 security personnel and had tall barriers erected along the Avenue des ChampsÉlysées, demonstrators managed to reach the Arc de Triomphe, partly vandalizing the war memorial under the arch.