'Yellow vest' protesters unimpressed by Macron's speech, plan to continue blockade

Reuters: 'Yellow vest' protesters in northern France said they were not convinced by measures announced by French President Emmanuel Macron in a television address on Monday (December 10) meant to ease a crisis that has gripped the nation. The protesters in Gaillon, northwest of Paris, have been stopping traffic at a strategic roundabout for the past 26 days. Eight of them gathered in a living room on Monday (December 10) evening to watch Macron's recorded speech. Macron announced wage rises for the poorest workers and tax cuts for pensioners in further concessions meant to defuse weeks of often violent protests that have challenged his authority. In measures that are likely to cost billions to state coffers, Macron said people on the minimum wage would see their salaries rise by 100 euros ($113.76) a month in 2019 without extra costs to employers. Pensioners earning less than 2,000 euros per month will see this year's increase in social security taxes scrapped, Macron said, going back on a measure that had particularly hurt his popularity with older voters.