Article snippet: The protesters’ discontent stems from diesel fuel tax hikes, which have increased seven euro cents per liter — nearly 30 cents per gallon — and will continue climbing in coming years, Transport Minister Elisabeth Borne said. The tax on gas will also increase four euro cents. Presently, gasoline costs around 1.64 euros a liter in Paris — $7.06 a gallon — which is slightly higher than the price of diesel. In a speech to French mayors regarding the protests, Macron refused to mention the “Yellow Jackets” by name and lamented the “demagogic fashion” in which the protesters were opposing the fuel tax hikes, citing it as evidence that France is in a “moral crisis.” “It’s a little bit unfair,” Macron, per the New York Times, complained of the protests during a question-and-answer session with the country’s mayors during their annual convention. “They see my face when they fill up at the gas pump.” “There is a moral crisis in society,” the French president later admitted. “The risk is in the ambient demagogy. I’m hearing the anger. But I don’t want to hear it in a demagogic fashion.” “The challenge that is ours is to invent a new grammar,” Macron said at one point in his remarks. According to the Times, none of Macron’s deputies have met with representatives of the “Yellow Jackets” and have offered what is described as meager financial “gestures” in the form of checks and rebates. However, the protesters say the offers would do very little to nothing at all to help make... Link to the full article to read more