Several tens of thousands of people marched on Sunday throughout France on the occasion of May Day, in a very political context after the presidential election, in processions sometimes marked by clashes and damage, especially in Paris.
In the capital, where the CGT claimed 50,000 demonstrators, the demonstration started shortly after 2:30 pm from the Place de la République towards the Place de la Nation, on the call of the CGT-Unsa-FSU-Solidaires trade union, joined by the student and high school organizations Unef, VL, MNL and FIDL, with demands for higher wages, the maintenance of public services and social protection, and a policy of ecological transition.
The reform of pensions is also one of the points of tension of this day “a little exceptional” this year because it comes a week after the re-election of Emmanuel Macron, stressed the secretary general of the CGT, Philippe Martinez, for whom a new mobilization is possible from “before the return, because the level of discontent on pensions or wages is very strong.
Incidents break out
On the bangs of the demonstration, constant clashes opposed the forces of order to young people dressed in black, with projectiles and tear gas grenades. Along the Boulevard Voltaire, many shop windows were destroyed, including that of a McDonald’s restaurant and several banks. A car was broken into, fires broke out, including one fueled by wooden boards.
Darmanin condemns
The French Interior Minister, Gerald Darmanin denounced Sunday the “unacceptable violence” committed by “casseurs” dressed in black and came “to disrupt the demonstrations of May 1, especially in Paris,” with dozens of signs vandalized on the route, blocking the progress of the union procession.
“Thugs come to disrupt the demonstrations of May 1, especially in Paris, committing unacceptable violence. I follow this with attention,” tweeted the Minister of the Interior, assuring his “full support to the police and gendarmes mobilized.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon also denounces the violence
“The parasitic violence of May Day invisibilize the march of the unions and serve the propaganda to our worst opponents. Fed up,” Jean-Luc Mélenchon tweeted just now. “The police prefect knew. Unable to guarantee the right to demonstrate in peace,” denounced the French Prime Minister, Jean-Luc Mélenchon.
