Emmanuel Macron swept aside France's traditional parties to win the presidency. He tamed unions as he reformed the labor market and income tax, all without much mass protest.
Now though, his presidency is being shaken by a grassroots movement with no real leadership. Organized through social media, the so-called yellow jackets have shut down key transport links at times over the past week and Saturday police used tear gas and water cannons to contain thousands of protesters — who lit fires and ripped up cobblestones — on the Champs-Elysees.
Polls show they have the support of three-quarters of the French.
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