By Yusuf Ozcan</p> <p>PARIS (AA) – French President Emmanuel Macron launched a national debate Tuesday in an effort to assuage growing anger by protesters over a long list of grievances.</p> <p>The first round was held in the northern town of Grand Bourgtheroulde with 600 mayors.</p> <p>The move to organize the two months of countrywide Town Hall-style gatherings is aimed at addressing the "Yellow Vest" protests, which began on Nov. 17 out of growing frustration over a controversial fuel tax hike but soon expanded into a broader movement against Macron.</p> <p>Four main themes will be addressed: taxation, France’s transition to a low-carbon economy, democracy and citizenship, and the functioning of state and public services.</p> <p>Macron asked the mayors to help organize the debates and offer solutions to the issues.</p> <p>"For people in a difficult situation, we will try to make them take more responsibility," he said in an earlier speech in the town of Gasny.</p> <p>"Because some are doing the right thing, and some are just messing around.”</p> <p>- Yellow Vest protests</p> <p>The Yellow Vest protests quickly took on larger themes and spilled to other European countries.</p> <p>Thousands of protesters wearing bright yellow vests — dubbed the Yellow Vests — initially gathered in major French cities, including Paris, to protest Macron's controversial fuel tax hike and the deteriorating economic situation.</p> <p>Demonstrators held protests blocking roads and also the entrances and exits to gas stations and factories across the country. Police responded with teargas and water cannons.</p> <p>The protesters, who generally live in rural areas due to high rents in the cities, demanded that Macron cut fuel taxes and ease their economic difficulties.</p> <p>Under pressure, Macron announced a rise in the minimum wage and scuttled the tax hike.</p> <p>Since then, however, the protests have grown into a broader movement aimed at tackling income inequality and are calling for giving citizens a stronger voice in government decision-making.</p> <p>At least 10 people have died, more than 5,600 others have been detained and in excess of 1,700 others have been injured in the protests.
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