France’s Macron cancels planned address to the nation due to ‘terrible fire’ at Notre Dame cathedral

15 Apr, 2019 17:45 / Updated 5 years ago

French President Emmanuel Macon has scrapped his planned address to the nation amid the “terrible fire” at the iconic Notre Dame Cathedral (Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris), which is burning down in Paris.

Macron was set to hold a large press conference at the Elysee palace on Monday. The president was expected to unveil a set of measures for the country in response to the Yellow Vest protest, which have been rocking the country for the past few months.

Macron was set to hold a large press conference at the Elysee Palace on Monday. The president was expected to unveil a set of measures for the country in response to the Yellow Vest protests, which have been rocking the country for the past few months.

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The said measures are believed to be based on the results of the “great national debate,” held by the government in an attempt to funnel protest from the streets into a discussion instead. “We have decided to transform anger into solutions,” Macron wrote on Twitter, announcing the press conference. “For months, we listened. Tomorrow, I will answer.”

The grand unveiling of the government’s measures, however, was marred by the massive fire at the iconic Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, which caught fire shortly before the president’s address. Citing the “terrible fire,” Macron scrapped the event.

Macron is expected to arrive at the scene shortly, according to Elysee officials. Meanwhile, the cathedral’s spire and roof have partially collapsed.

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