One of the leaders of the “yellow vest” anti-government demonstrations was detained by police in Paris late on Wednesday for organising an unauthorised protest, signalling a harder line by the authorities against the movement.Eric Drouet — who already faces a trial for carrying a weapon at a previous protest — was held while heading for the Champs-Élysées, which has been the scene of violent clashes over the last month.“It’s called respecting the rule of law,” Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire said on Thursday, as he defended the arrest which drew criticism from some leftist opponents of the government.A few dozen demonstrators had gathered outside a McDonald’s restaurant near France’s famous Arc de Triomphe war monument and had been waiting for Mr. Drouet to arrive early on Wednesday evening.
