Emmanuel Macron offers protesters benefits worth €10bn

EVEN BEFORE a terrorist opened fire at the Christmas market in Strasbourg, killing two people and injuring a dozen more, Emmanuel Macron was facing the first real crisis of his presidency. After two weekends of rioting and four weeks of protests, a pale and chastened Mr Macron addressed the nation from the Elysée palace on the eve of the attack. His brow creased, his tone contrite, the French president acknowledged his mistakes—“I know I have hurt some of you with my words”—and promised a range of fiscal measures to boost pay packets and pensions.

Mr Macron’s address to the nation, watched by a staggering 23m people (more than watched France win the football World Cup in July), was the first time he had spoken publicly since violence engulfed central Paris on December 1st, as part of the country-wide gilets jaunes (“yellow jackets”) movement. The president promised that those on the minimum wage—currently €1,499 ($1,704) a month—would receive a net extra €100 each month without any cost to employers (partly through an expanded wage subsidy). An increase in social charges on pensions for those on less than €2,000 a month will be cancelled. Overtime and end-of-year bonuses offered by employers would be free of taxes and charges.