FRANCE’S yellow vest movement will contest May’s European Parliament elections, announcing 10 candidates who will stand under as the Citizen-led rally (RIC).

They aim to increase the number of candidates to challenge all 79 seats allocated to France in the European Parliament and are appealing for donations to raise the €700,000 (£609,000) needed to stand in the elections.

It signifies a major development and could present a significant challenge to mainstream French politicians who have struggled to deal with the movement, which has grown from protests over a fuel tax into a broader political movement.

The yellow vests have become a symbol of resistance, with thousands taking to the streets across France every week since November.

They have forced a series of concessions from President Emmanuel Macron’s government, including the scrapping of the fuel tax and a rise in the country’s minimum wage.

However, the protests have continued with calls for Mr Macron to resign.

In a statement, the group said: “We want this list to be carried by people who have been involved in the mobilisation on the roundabouts from the beginning. No technocrats.

”We must transform the anger into a human political project that is able to bring solutions to the French.”

Although the group has continued to insist it is a leaderless movement, the campaign will be led by prominent yellow vest activist Hayc Shahinyan.

RIC indicated that it was standing on an anti-EU programme and said its platform was in opposition to “the decisions of European institutions and diktats from the financial and technocrat classes, who have forgotten what really matters: humanity, solidarity and the planet” and vowed to be a “spokesperson for the citizens, who will be consulted throughout the mandate.”

Polling from Elabe published on Wednesday suggested the RIC could pick up around 13 per cent of the vote.