it's d.w. news live from berlin one year of anger in the streets of france demonstrations across the country marked the anniversary of a yellow that's movement police respond with water cannon in tear gas as fires and violence erupt in paris. also coming up it's been 30 years since the velvet revolution brought down communism and what used to be czechoslovakia now checks are back on the streets demanding more democracy they're calling for the resignation of prime minister andre bauer.

and william blue cross welcome to the program a fiery adverse for today across france as they get all this movement marks one year since 1st taking to the streets in paris police used water cannon and tear gas to disperse at times the violent crowds the movement which has been accused of tolerating anti-semitism and nationalist views in its ranks is attracting fewer people these days it activists say they're keeping up the pressure on the government to improve the lives of regular workers. then numbers have dropped since they peaks last year but france's yellow vests protesters are still determined to take a stand against inequality in time living costs the movement's 1st anniversary so the now familiar confrontation with riot police on the streets of paris i was shocked to read a book i couldn't even breathe there was some much tear gas if the. from mcdonald's

hadn't opened the door for me had been on my way to hospital these imbeciles keep firing tear gas that has. the yellow vests want to make it clear to president emanuel macro that they haven't gone away a new poll shows more than half the french population support them. all the children were still in exactly the same place but we won't give up we will fight for apaches think power for them to stop imposing taxes on us the little ones because we're fed up of dying and silence what out there street has been coming here every saturday from the beginning and as you can see we're good to go on for a 2nd yeah because there's nothing nothing nothing and yeah yeah yeah yeah. despite these latest disturbances the movement has lost momentum that's partly because mike ross softened his stance and offered billions in state aid and tax cuts he also scrapped plans for a massively unpopular increase in fuel tax but more on rest is likely before the

year is out unions of called mass strikes early next month to protest against proposed pension reforms. and the w.'s lisa lewis has been covering the protests in paris for us she says that while the crowds in the streets may have diminished their anger over the economy has not. today's one year anniversary of the yellow this movement so thousands of people turnout across france there were clashes between the police and protesters here in the capital paris and in other cities and it's clear that the underlying anger that triggered the movement in the 1st place is still very much there however the number of protesters has gone down drastically and according to one poll a majority of the french don't want the movement to re going traction and even though those who are still there protesting i determined to continue that

demonstrations the government also seems determined to continue its reforms and to not be deterred by a few 1000 protests. in the czech republic around a quarter of a 1000000 people took to the streets of the capital prague on saturday to demonstrate against prime minister andre bobbish the protesters are giving babich an ultimatum sell its business interests or step down position groups say the billionaire prime minister profits from his political office protest organizers are using the 30th anniversary of the czech velvet revolution which is a milestone mom moment in the demise of communism in europe to make their demands. we're joined now by my colleague reporter john will sure so john tell us why now well these protests are happening because 2 years ago prime minister babbitt was supposed to put his business and media empire into a public trust fund but he didn't he owns agra furred which isn't and could come

a group and he also owns a media empire including 2 change daily newspapers critics say this is a conflict of interest the e.u. has investigated him but they haven't done anything about it so far so today many in prague felt it was important to make their voices heard. i'm not hoping here for him to step down i feel right and i'm just hoping that the people in this country will start thinking it's good for us that he can show. about democracy and about politics and it's really good to keep in mind that it's not for the free if we here to show you show him and people like him that we are here we're there watching him and you will protect our democracy. so john it's interesting and probably no coincidence that these protests these people come out on the street on the 30th anniversary the velvet revolution what's the connection there so actually this movement has been building for several years 6 months ago there was a similar protest of 300000 people but organizers chose today because like you said

of the real revolution they're trying to compare corruption then to perceive corruption now they're even using some of the same slogans such as we all hear echoing the same words that 30 years ago the prime minister babbage says he doesn't understand the criticisms and polls say that his policy remains the most popular in the czech republic despite the controversy all right john walsh thanks very much for your reporting. now to some of the other stories making news around the world. at least one person has been killed during protests in iran the unrest erupted after a surprise decision by the government to raise fuel prices by 50 percent and introduce rationing protesters block traffic in tehran while in other parts of the country police fired tear gas at demonstrations. protesters in bolivia have been mourning the death of at least 8 people who were shot by security

forces during violent demonstrations in support of deposed president evo morales the interim government is struggling to restore stability following the resignation of the former president. in venezuela opposition leader one has led new protests against the government of nicolas maduro earlier this year declared himself president but the door remains in power inspired by protest movements elsewhere in latin america is now trying to reignite the opposition movement. here in germany greens are in the opposition for now but polls show them nipping at the heels of america's leading conservatives increased concern over climate change is largely responsible for their newfound popularity but also the party's cult leaders have done their share uniting and expanding the party's base now general elections here in germany are scheduled until 2021 and there's

a good chance the greens could find themselves in government but still they struggling germany's former east where many voters fear a climate agenda will hurt a region already suffering from brain drain and deindustrialization. flowers for the winner the greens reelected an early enough bear book as co-leader with 97 point one percent of the vote thank you i accept the result i'm speechless and close to tears thank you no leader of the green says ever been elected by such a margin before in her acceptance speech stressed a cola for she even a carbon neutral economy and society. the most enough is what we have to assure that the ecological transformation is the social ecological transformation that work for all people for all people in this society thank you. delegate so surreal like to talk about topic bev books partner in leadership he told delegates he wants to open the greens to

a wider and that target. different we can't allow ourselves to be rigid we have to listen to legitimate criticism and always be ready to talk to everybody . a couple of the questions remain unanswered should to greens propose a candidate for chancellor in the next election and who should that be but it was clear that the party feels ready to govern. it should be exposed i mean we are growing into a new role and that is not just to participate in government but to provide leadership. now needs to feel that. the greens have thick ambitions but they remain weak in germany eastern states and in areas where voters fear climate action will hurt local industries many voters still see the greens us and leads us who are detached from ordinary voters concerns. at the green party conference and she caught up with after reelection. thank you for

joining us today the greens are still flying high in the polls here in germany in 2nd position what do you plan to do to make sure that the party can keep that momentum going ahead of the 2021 election to keep on going what we have tried in the last 2 years that we didn't look what are the others doing the social democrats or the conservatives and just. reacting to their proposal about bringing our own proposal with regard to fair housing in cities which is a big problem in germany with regard to the economy and the question how do we get our economy carbon free and the question especially of rural areas we have tried to put in the middle of our politics and who are quite successful not everyone in the last elections but to try to keep one of the following distracting we heard from your colleague as well yesterday rove it back speaking about the and of the medical error that that's upon us how do you see the green party shaping the future of

germany in the future of germany's role in terms of on the international stage but also specifically in the european union. we need definitely more european engagement where so many proposals on the floor with regard to the european union is specially investing in sure the future of the european union and germany has been very reluctant over the last year and this is a big problem and that's why we for example propose that they have to be a big fun person the european union investment of infrastructure but also making the banking system secure against the next crisis. and to engage also in the question of agricultural policy where most of the money goes into it and that's coming form and looking ahead now it's the 1000000 euro question right now do you see yourself as the next chancellor of germany on all this is not already paid because we don't even have the election coming up it's supposed to be. 2021

and we focused on the question which are on the table right now thank you very much and i thank you. voters in belo rusco to the polls on sunday the country is widely known as europe's last dictatorship where elections tend to be a foregone conclusion president alexander lukashenko has been in power there for 25 years and for opposition there is little room to maneuver but relations with russia the country's longtime patron are souring which has some belarusians looking west. arianna is a student in minsk she dreams of having the kind of life the people in the e.u. have she says the e.u. has a stronger economy better pay and a higher standard of living she's currently writing her dissertation and would then like to go to poland to continue study the more you go out for whatever reason many people say that things are bad in batteries but why i would like to find the reasons and then decide whether i want to live here or if i prefer another country

. bella ruse has historically had close links to russia but it has gradually developed a distinct national identity as indicated by the street signs which are now in belorussian instead of russian. the government's also working to improve ties with the e.u. what arianna would really welcome though is a less autocratic form of leadership in her country. i don't have much to do with politics and i also don't want to but what's the point if it's people from the top you decide and not the public. notice. although parliamentary elections take place on sunday election posters are scarce like here at this small marketplace in the town of very xeno by the elections are a waste and they've already been decided on without a malaria thinks his country's relationship with russia is important but he also

has concerns the retired lawyer says his son can't find any work. for you my son has completed 2 higher education courses but can't put them into practice in this country. he had to work for 4 years in russia then returned home and still can't get work in his field. that sadness to his small campaign stand seems to be the only one who wants to meet the candidate but the candid it doesn't show up. believes belarus could look both east and west to secure a more prosperous future. the ties to russia need to be developed but of course they should also be improving ties with all countries including western ones and the european union. there is that i will see what i say was. president alexander lucas shank oh does seem to be playing both sides now seen here on the

left and him self only with his eastern neighbors but he has frequently held talks with the e.u. leaders in recent years for many young people in minsk lukas shimko and his politics make little difference they just want to get ahead and if that can't happen in bella ruse they'll make it happen elsewhere this is g.w. news live from berlin thanks for watching. sean hello halflings this is the move all speaking welcome to the show with yet ya high end concerts with film astri's guests.