YELLOW VEST UNREST: EMMANUEL MACRON PENS 2,300-WORD LETTER TO QUELL IT

President Emmanuel Macron yesterday kicked off a three-month national debate he hopes can quell the "yellow vest" unrest with a letter to the French in which he promise to listen to new ideas but stuck to his core economic reform agenda.

Macron's incentive comes after nine weeks of protests by the "yellow vests" -- which was named after the high-visibility jackets they wear. The disparate anti-government uprising has wreaked mayhem in Paris and French cities, shaken the economy and challenged his authority.

"For me, there is no banned issue. We won't agree on everything, which is normal in a democracy. But at least we'll show we're a people which is not afraid of talking, exchanging, debating," this was written by Macron in the letter published by his office.

However, President Macron said that, he will remain faithful to his campaign manifesto, and appeared to rule out rolling back some of the pro-business economic reforms, such as scrapping a wealth tax, which have earned him the nickname "president of the rich".