French PM Edouard Philippe: We’ll stand firm against 'scenes of anarchy' at fuel tax protests

France's prime minister Edouard Philippe has pledged to stand firm against “scenes of anarchy” as the fuel tax protests that left one dead and more than 400 injured continued today.

An estimated 320,000 protesters took to the streets at the weekend, paralysing traffic at key points across the country in a bid to force the government to lower taxes on diesel and petrol.

Blockades were today targeting oil depots amid warnings of continued disruption in the weeks ahead. An official said 30 people were arrested overnight as police tried to clear the protesters.

It followed a weekend of chaos as protesters calling themselves “yellow vests”, after the hi-visibility jackets that have become their emblem, clashed with police and motorists.

Chantal Mazet, 63, was killed on Saturday when she was hit by a car at a blockade in the Alps.

Other incidents among about 5,000 protests included an attempted storming of the road outside the Elysée Palace — the presidential home in Paris — and fights with CRS riot police on the Champs-Elysées.

Speaking on national TV, Mr Philippe last night said the government would not back down on fuel tax rises, as President Macron’s efforts to put the environment at the heart of his agenda stoked anger in the provinces. “Safety has been a constant in our approach to this,” said Mr Philippe.

“In France, freedom of expression and freedom of demonstration are guaranteed, but not anarchy. We have seen scenes of anarchy.”

Motorists are angry at a 21 cents per litre rise in diesel fuel tax over the past eight years. They face another 6.5 cents rise in January. The price of diesel, the most popular fuel in France, has risen by almost 25 per cent over the past year to an average of €1.51 (£1.32) a litre.

Thousands living in rural communities say they are the worst hit by the rising cost. But speaking on France 2, Mr Philippe said tax rises would continue: “The course we have set is a good one, and we will keep to it. It is not when the wind blows that you change course.”

An unidentified 43-year-old woman faces trial for allegedly using her Audi “as a weapon and causing unintentional death”, according to prosecutors.

She tried to drive through a blockade, killing grandmother Ms Mazet who was taking part in the protest, but denies manslaughter, saying she “panicked” as she wanted to take her daughter to the doctors. The protests are a huge challenge to Mr Macron, who came to power in May last year promising a greener France. He wants to eventually outlaw petrol and diesel engines.