Anti-EU Yellow Vest protesters reveal they will stand for the European Parliament in May 

Anti-EU Yellow Vest protesters reveal they will stand for the European Parliament during elections in May

  • The movement put forward ten men and women for the next European elections
  • A large number of them are calling for France to leave the EU – or ‘Frexit’ 
  • Ingrid Levavasseur, a 31-year-old care worker, is one of the candidates 
  • Riots started in November and have caused millions of pounds worth of damage 

Yellow Vest protesters responsible for weeks of civil unrest including rioting in France are to stand for the European Parliament.

Organisers of the movement on Thursday put forward ten men and women who will wear their trademark high visibility motoring jackets when they contest elections in May.

All have been illegally blockading roundabouts across the country, while others have taken part in demonstrations that have descended into serious violence in cities such as Paris and Bordeaux.

Despite their decision to stand for the EU Parliament, a huge number of Yellow Vest protesters are anti-EU and want France to leave the bloc (‘Frexit’) 

Ingrid Levavasseur, (centre) talks to residents and protesters as she waits for French President Emmanuel Macron's visit in Bourgtheroulde, Normandy, Tuesday, January 15

Ingrid Levavasseur, (centre) talks to residents and protesters as she waits for French President Emmanuel Macron’s visit in Bourgtheroulde, Normandy, Tuesday, January 15

Despite their decision to stand for the EU Parliament, a huge number of them are fiercely anti-EU, and want a Brexit-style ‘Frexit’ that would see France leave the bloc.

Ingrid Levavasseur, a care worker aged 31 and one of the candidates, said: ‘This is about people who have mobilised from the beginning.’

Other would-be Yellow Vest MEPs include a 46-year-old housewife and a 53-year-old company director.

Care worker Ingrid Levavasseur, 31, one of the leading figures of France's Yellow Vests protests, will stand in the  elections in May

Care worker Ingrid Levavasseur, 31, one of the leading figures of France’s Yellow Vests protests, will stand in the elections in May

The movement started on November 17 as a social media campaign against the escalating price of fuel, and quickly spread.

Soon after its first riots in early December, President Emmanuel Macron cancelled green taxes on petrol and diesel, and increased the minimum wage by seven per cent.

This boosted support for the Yellow Vests, leading to them taking to the streets in huge numbers and demanding even more concessions.

A massive riot in Paris on December 1 led to million of pounds worth of damage being caused, including to the Arc de Triomphe itself.

Since then, anti-government Yellow Vests have rallied in other EU countries, including Britain.

French ruling party member of the National Assembly Jean-Luc Fugit takes part in a 'citizen assembly' called by the Yellow Vest movement on the merge of the 'great national debate' on January 22 in Ternay, near Lyon

French ruling party member of the National Assembly Jean-Luc Fugit takes part in a ‘citizen assembly’ called by the Yellow Vest movement on the merge of the ‘great national debate’ on January 22 in Ternay, near Lyon

The French version hopes to put forward as many as 79 candidates for the European Parliament elections, which will be held between May 23 and 26.

They will campaign on a Citizens’ Charter calling for Brexit-style referendums on almost every issue.

There are currently 751 MEPs representing 500 million EU citizens, but this number is set to go down because Britain is set to leave the EU in late March, so losing all its MEPs.

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