France's Yellow Vests to take part in EU elections

By Yusuf Ozcan</p> <p>PARIS (AA) – The Paris coordinator of France’s Yellow Vest protest movement said Friday they are preparing to participate in European Union parliamentary elections.</p> <p>In remarks made on the BFM TV news channel, Thierry Paul Valette said they have created a list of candidates from the movement, called the Yellow Vested Citizens Union, and want to formally take part in the elections, which will be held on May 26.</p> <p>Valette said they want to build a more democratic and social Europe.</p> <p>Since Nov. 17, thousands of protesters wearing bright yellow vests — dubbed the Yellow Vests — have gathered in major French cities, including Paris, to protest French President Emmanuel Macron's controversial fuel tax hikes and deteriorating economic situation.</p> <p>Demonstrators held protests blocking roads as well as entrances and exits to gas stations and factories across the country.</p> <p>Under pressure, Macron announced a rise in the minimum wage and scuttled the tax hikes.</p> <p>Since then, however, the protests have grown into a broader movement aimed at tackling income inequality and are calling for giving citizens a stronger voice in government decision-making.</p> <p>At least 10 people have died, around 6,000 others have been detained and over 2,000 others have been injured in the protests.