Almost 1,800 Verdicts Issued Over Yellow Vest Protests In France - Prime Minister Edouard Philippe

Almost 1,800 Verdicts Issued Over Yellow Vest Protests in France - Prime Minister Edouard Philippe

As many as 1,796 verdicts have been issued in France over violence linked to the yellow vest movement since the protests began in mid-November, French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said Tuesday

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 12th February, 2019) As many as 1,796 verdicts have been issued in France over violence linked to the yellow vest movement since the protests began in mid-November, French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said Tuesday.

"Since the start of these events, 1,796 verdicts have been issued by the judiciary and 1,422 people are still waiting for court decisions ... More than 1,300 immediate trials have been organized and 316 people have been placed under committal order," Philippe told the French parliament.

The prime minister added that 13 people were being investigated over the vandalism suffered by Arc de Triomphe in Paris in December.

The yellow vest protest movement, which takes its name from bright car vests, began over the government's plans to raise fuel prices. The French government gave up the price hike and made several other concessions after several weeks of protests. In January, the French authorities launched a nation-wide dialogue on taxes, democracy, environment and organization of the state.

However, the protests have continued, at times accompanied by violence. At a Saturday march in Paris, small scuffles broke out and one demonstrator's hand was severely damaged.