Tens of thousands of people demonstrated against far-right parties in France on Saturday.
In Paris and other major cities and towns, people responded to calls from unions and other organizations to protest against Marine Le Pen’s right-wing National Rally (RN) party, which could come to power in upcoming snap parliamentary elections . end of this month.
About 300,000 participants were expected at about 200 protest rallies. The police have deployed more than 20,000 officers.
According to media reports, clashes between demonstrators and police took place on the sidelines of several protest marches and property damage was caused. Demonstrations are also planned for Sunday.
“Either it’s the far right, or it’s us,” said Mathilde Panot, leader of the French Left Party faction, leading the demonstration in Paris ahead of the parliamentary elections.
Like Panot, many other leading politicians from the left-wing parties, who had presented a left-wing alliance for the elections on Friday, joined the demonstration in the capital.
President Emmanuel Macron unexpectedly dissolved the National Assembly last Sunday in response to the defeat of his liberal forces in the European elections and the resounding victory of right-wing nationalists, announcing early elections for June 30 and July 7.
The National Rally’s strong performance in the European elections cannot automatically be transferred to the parliamentary elections as France has a majority voting system. The MP from a constituency who receives the most votes in the second round of the second round of elections is elected to Parliament.
