May Day rallies in Paris criticize Macron, injure 8 policemen
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Demonstrations, some of them violent, break out in France on May Day following the recent presidential elections, mainly criticizing newly re-elected French President Emmanuel Macron's plan to raise the retirement age.
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French police run towards protesters during traditional May 1 holiday demonstrations on International Workers' Day in Paris, France, on Sunday, May 1, 2022 (Bloomberg)
Tens of thousands of people took to the streets in France today, Sunday, to mark the traditional May Day rally in Paris.
Violence broke out with the police as the demonstrators tried to put pressure on the recently re-elected President Emmanuel Macron, calling for an increase in salaries, support for public services, and better climate policies.
A Sputnik correspondent reported clashes between the French police and demonstrators at May Day rallies in Paris, noting that police officers were forced to use tear gas to disperse the demonstrators.
The May Day rally involved different youth organizations, trade unions, left-wing politicians, supporters of the Yellow Vests Movement, and representatives of socialist and communist parties. According to the BFMTV broadcaster, former French presidential candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon was expected to participate in the Paris rally.
Most of the clashes between the police and protestors took place on Voltaire Boulevard in the 11th arrondissement of Paris. Protesters started showering police with smoke bombs, stones, and glass bottles. The law enforcement officers used tear gas, in response, several times in a row, as per the Sputnik correspondent.
Another movement that joined the demonstration, The Black Block movement, set garbage bins on fire and broke the windows of cafes, pharmacies, real estate agencies, banks, and other buildings on Voltaire Boulevard, as per the correspondent, and some protesters were looting the unguarded stores.
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France May Day
According to Reuters, about 250 rallies took place in Paris and other cities including Toulouse, Nantes, and Marseille to protest the policies of newly re-elected President Emmanuel Macron, calling him to drop his plan to raise the retirement age and demanding salary increases.
While most of the protests were peaceful, violence erupted mainly in Paris, causing 8 policemen to be injured and the arrest of more than 45 protestors, according to the French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin on his Twitter account.
Manifestations du 1er-Mai: 8 policiers blessés et 45 casseurs interpellés, annonce Gérald Darmanin
— BFMTV (@BFMTV) May 1, 2022
L'auteure de l'agression d'un pompier a également été interpellée, selon le ministre de l'Intérieur ⤵ pic.twitter.com/GMDK0IZQOC
On Monday, a Sputnik correspondent reported clashes between protestors and law enforcement officers in Paris after declaring the preliminary presidential election results, noting that police used tear gas against the demonstrators.
Reuters reports 19-year-old student Joshua Antunes saying, "It is important to show Macron and the whole political world that we are prepared to defend our social rights," criticizing the president's "inactivity" on environmental issues.
The ralliers held banners that read "Macron, Get Out", "Retirement Before Arthritis", and "Retirement at 60, Freeze Prices."
