Thousands of Protestors March Against the Far-Right All Over France Following European Elections, Nine Arrested
Image Credit: The Economic Times
On Saturday, thousands marched in protest in Paris and other cities across France against the far-right National Rally (RN) preceding the upcoming elections to the French Parliament. Police in France had claimed that they expect over 350,000 people to partake in the march following the spike in RN’s numbers in last Sunday’s European elections.
Twenty-one thousand officers have been reported to gather together after labor unions, student groups, and rights organizations called for rallies to oppose the far-right party. Anti-racism groups collaborated with French unions and a newly risen left-wing coalition in the protests all over the country against the ultra-nationalist far-right party.
French opinion polls show that the National Rally party, whose leader has been convicted of antisemitism and racism multiple times, is expected to lead the first round of parliamentary elections with 33 percent of votes. The alliance of left-wing parties known as the Popular Front would be right behind with 25 percent, and Mr. Macron’s centrist camp was at 20 percent. Nonetheless, a first series of polls project that Marine Le Pen’s National Rally party is set to win the elections and form the next government in France. As predictions point to RN’s absolute or relative majority, it raises fears as to what’s at stake for France.
If a win occurs, Macron would remain president for another three years and stay in charge of defense and foreign policy. However, he would eventually lose control of his hold on matters of domestic importance such as policy, security, immigration, and finance, which would eventually impact other policies such as aid to Ukraine.
At least 150 marches are expected to occur in several French cities, like Marseille, Toulouse, Lyon, and Lille. According to the CGT Union, 640,000 marched in total all across the country, while 250,000 marched in Paris. According to reports by police in Paris, “numerous attempts at damage” were carried out by protesters. Nine protestors were arrested so far, with three officers claimed to be injured.
Over 217,000 took place all over France, with demonstrators holding banners and signs that signify their dislike for the anti-immigration, eurosceptic party. In the western city of Tours, where hundreds of protestors were partaking in protest, a banner read: “For liberties, for rights, for a social and democratic republic, against far-right ideas and against racism.”
The support for the party among young people is seen to be low. A 22-year-old student taking part in the march, Carole-Ann Juste, says she was “worried because people believe the lies of this party that has a truly racist heritage,” which was made in reference to the National Front, which preceded the RN, and whose leader Jean-Marie Le Pen was fined for statements that were considered anti-semitic and xenophobic. She desired to “fight to preserve a country of human rights, freedom, and tolerance,” Juste added. Banners that read “young people hate the FN (the RN’s previous name)” were also carried by protestors.
President Macron has called for a snap legislative election to be held in two rounds on June 30th and July 7th. This was announced after his centrist alliance was walloped by Sunday’s European parliament ballot.
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