The protests took place as Macron said in a 16-minute televised new year's address that the French government "can do better" at improving people's lives. But he said the movement's protests would not persuade his administration to abandon its economic agenda.

Tomasz Michalski, an associate professor with the Economics and Decision Sciences Department at the HEC Paris business school, said Macron had adopted a lot of measures to help the rich, in the hope that efforts to attract entrepreneurs would help spur economic growth and reduce unemployment. "People have waited and waited for two years, but nothing happened," he said.

According to Michalski, Macron also promised a special program for the less well-off in poorer cities and suburbs. "But he didn't deliver this either," he said.

An analysis of the 2018-19 budget carried out by the country's Public Policy Institute showed that the poorest 25 percent of households would largely see their income fall or remain unchanged under Macron's plans.

Middle-income earners would see a modest rise. However, the greatest beneficiaries would be those who are already in the top 1 percent of the country's richest. The outlook is bleakest for retirees, almost all of whom will be worse off.

Michalski said that what really bothers most people is that the system of meritocracy is "somewhat broken" in French society and they find it hard for their children to succeed.

Andrew Smith, a senior lecturer at the University of Chichester in the United Kingdom and an expert on French politics, said Macron's reforms have been popularly perceived to be benefiting the wealthy, and his personal style has been depicted as being increasingly aloof.

"There is a pervasive sense of inequality-be that regional, urban or class based. This has allowed many to project their own grievances onto the protest movement, broadening its support as well as its platform. The movement has spread quickly through Facebook groups and events," Smith said.