How do fuel protests compare to French yellow vest movement and Canadian freedom convoy?

Fuel protests have brought the country to a standstill, and despite a meeting with the Government on Friday there is no resolution on the horizon.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said Ireland’s oil supply is at risk, while up to 500 forecourts could be without fuel by the end of the day.

Images of trucks, tractors and coaches blocking motorways and fuel depots have drawn comparisons to the ‘yellow vest’ movement in France in 2018 and the Canadian ‘freedom convoy’ in 2022.

So what are the similarities and differences with what is going on here?

Yellow Vest movement

The yellow vest movement, like the Irish protests, started over fuel prices. However, it evolved into something much wider.

Protesters outlined a list of roader demands, including raising the minimum wage, reducing taxes on the middle/working class, and implementing citizen-initiated referendums.

The protests were weekly, and often involved violent clashes with police, particularly around the Paris area.

The protests finished in June 2020 and the fuel tax hikes planned by the government were cancelled, although the other demands were not achieved.

The unrest sparked by the yellow vest movement was seen as a major blow to French president Emmanuel Macron.

Freedom Convoy

The Freedom Convoy 2022 was a large-scale, sustained protest movement in Canada that began in late January 2022, primarily targeting Covid-19 vaccine mandates for cross-border truck drivers. It evolved into a broader protest against public health restrictions, pandemic policies, and the federal government, occupying downtown Ottawa and blockading key Canada-US border crossings.

Police from various jurisdictions brought the protests to an end in February after the Canadia government had declared a state of emergency.

A large amount of arrests were made with many still before the courts.

The Canadian government declared a state of emergency over the Freedom Convoy. Photo: Getty Images

How does the Irish protest differ?

This one is only a protests on fuel prices, although it could evolve into something more like the yellow vest movement. Like the aforementioned events, it is a grassroots movement that has grown significantly in a short period of time with huge momentum.

It remains to be seen how the Government will react, although measures to address the fuel crisis will be needed with supports due to be announced on Friday.