French PM to meet representatives of protesting taxi drivers
Taxi drivers have since Monday been protesting in Paris and other cities in France over a government decision to set a new fare rate from October for the subsidised transport of certified ill passengers.
Their actions have included rolling roadblocks and blockades of key sites such as Paris Charles de Gaulle airport.
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What to expect from this week's taxi protests
The change is part of French government efforts to rein in soaring health costs. Last year, the subsidised taxi system cost France €3 billion.
But drivers have complained that lower fares for transporting people to medical appointments would cut their revenues by more than a quarter. They are also angry over what they see as laxer rules and regulations for VTC drivers, such as Uber.
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So far, the protests, which began on Monday, have been disruptive. In the Paris area on Wednesday, a go-slow campaign caused over 450km of traffic jams, Actu France reported.
Meanwhile blockades have hit towns and cities including Marseille, Toulon, Amiens, Bordeaux and Pau - the hometown of PM Bayrou.
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