This Saturday, November 16, 2024, was a little cooler than November 17, in 2018, during the very first Yellow Vest demonstration which brought together thousands of people in Châteauroux and other towns in Indre.
Six years later, a handful came together again. There are around fifteen of them, two speakers and two tractors; much fewer in number, therefore. “We’re not here to block, there’s no point…” The speech is reasoned in view of the low number of participants.
In this morning mist, the highly recognizable silhouette of Dominique is still there. He brandished his “Macron resignation” sign. “This one went as far as Paris and came back. » Six years since the Yellow Vest of La Châtre has not let go of its sign and its demand. For the six years of the Yellow Vests, he hoped for more people. “There is nothing going right in this country anymore…”
This November 16, 2024, the Yellow Vests did not block motorists, but for them, the situation has not improved in any way.
© (Photo NR, Aziliz Le Berre)
It was better to have good morale, the findings of the handful of demonstrators are very gloomy. “In 2018, diesel was €1.39, and now it is €1.60! » And to denounce the recent announcements of job cuts at Auchan or Eurostyles for the local stage. “We will have to think about the employees, the workers. » Even if, during the demonstrations against the pension reform, opposition with the unions was felt. Everyone agrees that everyone's situation has not improved. “It’s always the same thing, with inflation, people can’t do it anymore. It's sad to work and not be able to make ends meet.”explained one of the participants who had already mobilized in 2018.
Diverging opinions despite the dream of union
Except that in terms of solution and action, their demands, already varied at the start of the movement, continue to be very diverse. “We are going to burn the flag of Europe, it was the 2005 treaty that got us into it, we want the return of the franc! “, says Yann who goes back and forth between the pedestrian crossing and the roundabout.
The proposals for calling out are variously shared: “Block media”assumes one. “Yes BFM! », “No, everyone!” » In the meantime, as the only representative of the press, we were able to continue our reporting.
The hopes of seeing everyone unite are raised. “The farmers, they fight for themselves, the teachers too, the railway workers the same, when they should all unite”believes Vincent. The latter finds that “the bosses should also join us, there are too many charges”. And for Yann, it is Urssaf that must be dissolved.
Difficult to define a line that unites them, but these Yellow Vests claim it. “Here, everyone votes differently but we are together. » Whole but in small portions. “Farmers don’t want to join us”Dominique knew.
The Yellow Vests had for a time joined the demonstrations against the health pass during the Covid crisis. Six years after the first roundabout blockages, they are difficult to count. “We didn’t communicate much either. » The desire not to declare a demonstration in the prefecture was assumed. For the rest, a new meeting is given, on January 11, with the hope that despite these disparate demands, they continue to proclaim “that they are there, even if Macron does not want them”.
