Panel: The Yellow Vest protests in France


  • Date : 13/12/2018
  • Time : 14:00 : 16:00
  • Venue : SETA İstanbul
  • End  : 13/12/2018
  • Address : Defterdar Mah. Savaklar Caddesi. No:41-43

RSVPs & FOR DETAILED INFORMATION : Oğuz Güngörmez - +90 212 395 11 47


  • Moderator : Enes Bayraklı, SETA
  • Speakers :Yasser Louati, President of the Justice & Freedom Committee (CJL)

    Belkis Kılıçkaya, 24 TV

    Léonard Faytre, SETA

    Laurent Lévy, Lawyer, Author

Since November 17, 2018, the “Yellow Vest” protests are not only plunging France into a new social crisis but are also introducing deep political and societal transformation. Not bound by any political party, union, or traditional organization, the Yellow Vests constitute a new kind of social movement that includes thousands of French citizens from different classes, origins, and political orientations; among others, the movement includes workers, the middle class, students, retirees, rightists, and leftists. The protesters have a variety of demands ranging from withdrawal of the fuel tax, the rise of minimum wage, and the fall of the Macron government to the establishment of a new political regime. In return, the French government attempts in vain to alleviate the situation with concessions and sticking to its liberal economic program. Yet, the polarization between the French elites and the population seems to be increasing every day following the intensification of violence from both police and protesters.

How can we understand this social movement? Is it going to spread throughout Europe? What are the different scenarios for the coming weeks? On Thursday, these questions will be debated at out panel at SETA.

Enes Bayraklı, director of European Studies at SETA, will moderate the panel and participate in a debate on these crucial issues with three experts on French politics: Yasser Louati, human rights activist and president of the Justice & Freedom Committee (CJL); Belkis Kılıçkaya, specialist on French politics and journalist at 24 TV; and Léonard Faytre, research assistant at SETA.

All participants are welcome.

Simultaneous Turkish-English interpretation will be provided.