Germany's Merkel Comments On Yellow Vests Saying Right To Protest Stops At Violence

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 15th December, 2018) German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Friday that the French had a democratic right to peaceful protest but the use of force should be exclusive to the government.

"The right to protest is part of democracy but this also means there cannot be any violence. The state has a monopoly on the use of force," she told reporters after the EU summit in Brussels.

Merkel warned that German demonstrators were expected to protest peacefully.

"I think this is also true for France," she added.

France has seen four weekends of unrest after thousands took to the streets in Paris to protest high fuel prices. As demonstrations turned violent, anarchists smashed store windows and set cars on fire, prompting police to use tear gas and water cannon. Another rally is expected this Saturday.