The Italian populist government announced on Monday its support for the protesting "yellow jackets" movement in France, while one of its main ministers called on protesters not to retreat.
In a move that would upset the French neighbor, Deputy Prime Minister Luigi de Mayo, the leader of the "Five Star" movement, wrote on the party's code "yellow jackets, do not weaken."
"I support fair citizens who are protesting against a president who rules against his people," said the other deputy prime minister, Matteo Salveni, head of the extreme right-wing party.
But he said he "firmly condemns" the violence that erupted in recent protests in most French regions, especially the capital, Paris two days ago, the latest violent protest.
On Saturday, protesters in Paris set fire to motorcycles and barriers on St. Germain Street after protests over rising living costs and what the protesters saw as indifference by French President Emmanuel Macaron.
Street protests began peacefully in the French capital, but they were derailed by midday when protesters began throwing ballistics at security forces that closed bridges on the Seine.
Police fired teargas to prevent hundreds of demonstrators from crossing the river and reaching the National Assembly (parliament) headquarters. The protesters set fire to a floating restaurant and a policeman was injured when he was hit by a bicycle on a street near the river.
Two months after protesters began closing roads, taking toll points on highways and marching in Paris, sometimes marred by violence, the yellow jackets sought to revive their movement after holiday fatigue.
In response to the tremor, the new government of Macron began attacking the yellow jackets, describing the remaining protesters as instigators seeking to overthrow the government. On Wednesday evening, police arrested one of the most prominent figures of the protest movement.
The protests are fueled by growing anger among workers and the middle class of low incomes and their belief that Macaron does not pay attention to citizens' needs, while seeking reforms that they see as being in the interest of richer groups.
You mention damage, but do not mention that it is caused by those who call themselves Antifa, done deliberately by them so as to damage the reputation of the Yellow Jackets and give the government an excuse to refuse to deal with the problems of the French people.
I'm just telling the story
Okay, I apologise. I tend to assume that posters want to improve their posts so as to be read by more people, but I never insist on helping.
Your way is okay and easy and I wish you the best.