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Local France
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Local France
Hundreds of thousands rally across France on May Day
While the march in the capital largely passed off without incident, Socialist lawmakers complained of being assaulted with punches and flares by all-black-clad protesters, leading to dozens of arrests in the afternoon. "Everyone hates the PS," chanted the protesters, some of whom were carrying far-left anti-fascist flags, according to the AFP correspondent. The PS is regularly accused of betrayal by the radical and hard left. Socialist deputy Jerome Guedj, who quit a rally against Islamophobia on Sunday after being targeted by anti-Semitic invective, had to be escorted away from the procession. Advertisement "They hit people and charged, throwing several flares," Guedj told AFP, blaming anti-fascist activists. Four Socialist activists and deputies were lightly injured, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau told the BFMTV broadcaster, denouncing the "absolutely lamentable" incidents. The police said officers had detained 72 people, including 52 in Paris, and had placed 28 people in provisional custody, of whom 19 were held in the capital. Asked about the scenes, the CGT union's chief Sophie Binet told television interviewers: "These are acts of violence which are not welcome in our processions." But nonetheless "this day of demonstrations was a great success, we've recorded 270 marches in all of France", she added. The hard-left La France Insoumise (LFI) party sought to distance itself from the violence towards PS lawmakers. "We do not agree that political disagreements should be resolved like that," said LFI national coordinator Manuel Bompard, while asking the media to "stop imputing" actions to the party. Unions and youth organisations had called for this year's May Day marches to be "against the far right, for peace, liberty and social justice". France's far-right Rassemblement National party is riding high in the polls, with its candidate predicted to top the first round of 2027's presidential vote - even if veteran leader Marine Le Pen is forced by the courts to step aside. With the 100th day of Donald Trump's second term in the White House just passed, Murielle Guilbert of the Solidarity union said the marches wanted to sound a klaxon "against the Trumpification of the world". The trade unionist said she did not know "a single worker today who is not worried about what Trump is doing and rising racism". Last May Day the CGT counted 210,000 protesters in France, including 50,000 in Paris, while the authorities put the total turnout at 121,000.
Euronews
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Euronews
Tens of thousands of people took part in May Day rallies across Europe
ADVERTISEMENT International Labour Day, also referred to as May Day or International Workers' Day, is an annual celebration that marks the struggles and achievements of workers and the labour movement around the world. It's observed around the globe on 1 May, and is a public holiday in most countries. The holiday has its foundations in North America. In May 1886, a violent crackdown on protesters in Chicago - known as the Haymarket Affair - saw numerous deaths and injuries after a peaceful rally in support of workers striking for an eight-hour workday. This led to the Second International in Paris calling for demonstrations to be held in its memory four years later. By the end of the 19th century, many European countries had taken inspiration, and May Day had become a global phenomenon. In Europe, events range in size and shape from nationwide celebrations to smaller-scale affairs. This year was no different, as many protests calling for increased workers' rights took place across major European capitals, here's a preview. France Thousands participated in nationwide protests, called for by unions across the country. More than 10,000 people participated in rallies held in Paris. Police scuffled with protesters in the capital on Thursday. The scuffles erupted when protesters passed by the Socialist Party militants who were asked to leave the protest including an MP, Jerome Guedj. Protesters attend the May Day demonstration, Thursday, May 1, 2025 in Paris Thibault Camus/Copyright 2025 The AP. All rights reserved. Thousands were attending the rallies and demonstrations, calling for stronger protections for workers, higher wages and greater equality. The demonstrations took place against a backdrop of political instability in the country, where a party deadlock and a historic parliamentary vote that ousted the previous government in December left the country without a functioning government for weeks. Spain Solidaridad, the workers' union of the far right party VOX and traditional workers unions staged parallel demonstrations in Madrid for Labor Day. Solidaridad held the rally together with party leader, Santiago Abascal in one of the working-class areas of the Madrid region, Fuenlabrada, to advocate for workers' rights. Vox and traditional workers unions stage parallel demonstrations in Madrid for Labor Day, Madrid, Spain, 1 May, 2025 ASSOCIATED PRESS They carried Spanish flags and criticised the government as well as the recent blackout on Monday. "The work in Spain is bad, many hours, low salary. Life is getting more expensive, and the government does nothing," said Andreu Barba, a gardener. Meanwhile, traditional workers' unions like UGT (General Workers Union) and CCOO (Workers Commission) held a rally in the city centre, where they called for the continuation of improved labour conditions and a reduction in the workday. ADVERTISEMENT Greece Thousands of workers gathered in central Athens on Thursday to mark the occasion. A protester from the anarchist block wearing helmet and tear gas mask, holds a smoke flare during a May Day rally in Athens, Greece, Thursday, May 1, 2025 Thanassis Stavrakis/Copyright 2025 The AP. All rights reserved Several workers' unions and trade unions staged a rally outside the parliament building, waving flags and chanting anti-government slogans. Student Foteini Douli said it was important to reflect and remember. 'Of course we are here to honour Labor Day, which after many struggles and with great effort we, workers managed to achieve the eight-hour day, the working conditions and the rest,' she said. ADVERTISEMENT
Saudi Gazette
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Saudi Gazette
Tens of thousands of people took part in May Day rallies across Europe
PARIS — Rallies and demonstrations were organized across multiple major European cities on Thursday to commemorate Labor Day, calling for higher pay, greater equality and the protection of workers' rights. International Labour Day, also referred to as May Day or International Workers' Day, is an annual celebration that marks the struggles and achievements of workers and the labor movement around the world. It's observed around the globe on 1 May, and is a public holiday in most countries. The holiday has its foundations in North America. In May 1886, a violent crackdown on protesters in Chicago — known as the Haymarket Affair — saw numerous deaths and injuries after a peaceful rally in support of workers striking for an eight-hour workday. This led to the Second International in Paris calling for demonstrations to be held in its memory four years later. By the end of the 19th century, many European countries had taken inspiration, and May Day had become a global phenomenon. In Europe, events range in size and shape from nationwide celebrations to smaller-scale affairs. This year was no different, as many protests calling for increased workers' rights took place across major European capitals, here's a preview. In France, thousands participated in nationwide protests, called for by unions across the country. More than 10,000 people participated in rallies held in Paris. Police scuffled with protesters in the capital Paris on Thursday. The scuffles erupted when protesters passed by the Socialist Party militants who were asked to leave the protest including an MP, Jerome Guedj. The demonstrations took place against a backdrop of political instability in the country, where a party deadlock and a historic parliamentary vote that ousted the previous government in December left the country without a functioning government for weeks. In Spain, Solidaridad, the workers' union of the far right party VOX and traditional workers unions staged parallel demonstrations in Madrid for Labor Day. Solidaridad held the rally together with party leader, Santiago Abascal in one of the working-class areas of the Madrid region, Fuenlabrada, to advocate for workers' rights. They carried Spanish flags and criticized the government as well as the recent blackout on Monday. "The work in Spain is bad, many hours, low salary. Life is getting more expensive, and the government does nothing," said Andreu Barba, a gardener. Meanwhile, traditional workers' unions like UGT (General Workers Union) and CCOO (Workers Commission) held a rally in the city centre, where they called for the continuation of improved labor conditions and a reduction in the workday. In Greece, thousands of workers gathered in central Athens on Thursday to mark the occasion. Several workers' unions and trade unions staged a rally outside the parliament building, waving flags and chanting anti-government slogans. Student Foteini Douli said it was important to reflect and remember. 'Of course we are here to honor Labor Day, which after many struggles and with great effort we, workers managed to achieve the eight-hour day, the working conditions and the rest,' she said. — Euronews
News.com.au
01-05-2025
- Politics
- News.com.au
300,000 rally across France for May 1, union says
Rallies across France for International Workers' Day drew more than 300,000 on Thursday, including 100,000 in Paris, the CGT trade union told AFP. The authorities were yet to give a figure for the May Day marches' turnout. The rally in the capital was marred by complaints of violence towards centre-left marchers, with the Socialist Party (PS) denouncing acts of physical aggression towards its supporters and deputies. An AFP journalist saw protesters covered up in black clothing roughly jostling PS politicians and activists. "Everyone hates the PS," chanted the protesters, some of whom were carrying far-left anti-fascist flags. The PS is regularly accused of betrayal by the radical and hard left. Socialist deputy Jerome Guedj, who quit a rally against Islamophobia on Sunday after being targeted by anti-Semitic invective, had to be escorted away from the procession. "They hit people and charged, throwing several farm bombs," Guedj told AFP, blaming anti-fascist activists. Asked about the scenes, the CGT union's chief Sophie Binet told television interviewers: "These are acts of violence which are not welcome in our processions." But nonetheless "this day of demonstrations was a great success, we've recorded 270 marches in all of France", the trade unionist added. - 'Worried about Trump' - The hard-left France Unbowed (LFI) party sought to distance itself from the violence towards PS lawmakers. "We do not agree that political disagreements should be resolved like that," said LFI national coordinator Manuel Bompard, while asking the media to "stop imputing" actions to the party. As in 2024 however this year's Labour Day took place with France's trade union movement divided. Several unions, including the CGT, and youth organisations called for the marches to be "against the far right, for peace, liberty and social justice". France's far-right National Rally party is riding high in the polls, with its candidate predicted to top the first round of 2027's presidential vote -- even if veteran leader Marine Le Pen is forced by the courts to step aside. With the 100th day of Donald Trump's second term in the White House just passed, Murielle Guilbert of the Solidarity union said the marches wanted to sound a klaxon "against the Trumpification of the world". The trade unionist said she did not know "a single worker today who is not worried about what Trump is doing and rising racism". Last May Day the CGT counted 210,000 protesters in France, including 50,000 in Paris, while the authorities put the total turnout at 121,000.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
300,000 rally across France for May 1, union says
Rallies across France for International Workers' Day drew more than 300,000 on Thursday, including 100,000 in Paris, the CGT trade union told AFP. The authorities were yet to give a figure for the May Day marches' turnout. The rally in the capital was marred by complaints of violence towards centre-left marchers, with the Socialist Party (PS) denouncing acts of physical aggression towards its supporters and deputies. An AFP journalist saw protesters covered up in black clothing roughly jostling PS politicians and activists. "Everyone hates the PS," chanted the protesters, some of whom were carrying far-left anti-fascist flags. The PS is regularly accused of betrayal by the radical and hard left. Socialist deputy Jerome Guedj, who quit a rally against Islamophobia on Sunday after being targeted by anti-Semitic invective, had to be escorted away from the procession. "They hit people and charged, throwing several farm bombs," Guedj told AFP, blaming anti-fascist activists. Asked about the scenes, the CGT union's chief Sophie Binet told television interviewers: "These are acts of violence which are not welcome in our processions." But nonetheless "this day of demonstrations was a great success, we've recorded 270 marches in all of France", the trade unionist added. - 'Worried about Trump' - The hard-left France Unbowed (LFI) party sought to distance itself from the violence towards PS lawmakers. "We do not agree that political disagreements should be resolved like that," said LFI national coordinator Manuel Bompard, while asking the media to "stop imputing" actions to the party. As in 2024 however this year's Labour Day took place with France's trade union movement divided. Several unions, including the CGT, and youth organisations called for the marches to be "against the far right, for peace, liberty and social justice". France's far-right National Rally party is riding high in the polls, with its candidate predicted to top the first round of 2027's presidential vote -- even if veteran leader Marine Le Pen is forced by the courts to step aside. With the 100th day of Donald Trump's second term in the White House just passed, Murielle Guilbert of the Solidarity union said the marches wanted to sound a klaxon "against the Trumpification of the world". The trade unionist said she did not know "a single worker today who is not worried about what Trump is doing and rising racism". Last May Day the CGT counted 210,000 protesters in France, including 50,000 in Paris, while the authorities put the total turnout at 121,000. burs-gge/sbk/giv
