Police clash with 10,000 French protesters over road tax

Thousands of people gathered in the city of Quimper in the Brittany region in Western France demanding to put a definitive end to a road tax on heavy vehicles. According to authorities, 10,000 people attended the protest, while organizers claim that around 30,000 people took part in it, including farmers, food sector workers and fishermen who came out to voice their concern over continuous layoffs and high taxes in the country. There were reports that some demonstrators hurled stones and iron bars at police causing officers to respond by firing tear gas and water cannons, the Voice of Russia reported. Protesters, wearing red caps resembling the 17th century revolt against King Louis XIV’s fiscal policies, took to the streets despite the government’s decision to suspend the so-called “ecotax” on heavy goods vehicles transporting over 3.5 tons of commercial goods. The move followed local businesses, farmers and food sector workers’ outrage in Brittany. People there are angry with continuing layoffs and high taxes and claim they are being unfairly penalized as most goods there have to be transported by road while the region has less rail infrastructure than the rest of France. Meanwhile, French President François Hollande has announced that a total of around three billion euros in tax increases is expected next year causing many people’s discontent as the country is currently battling increasing taxes and high unemployment, with at least 3.2 million French looking for a job.