Protests by thousands of French people following the lead of the extreme right in the elections

Following the announcement of the preliminary results of the French parliamentary elections, thousands of people gathered in Paris and the French police used tear gas to disperse the radicals of the “Black Bloc Movement” in the demonstrations.  The demonstration began after the announcement of the first results of the French parliamentary elections in favor of the right-wing parties, in the Republic Square of Paris. Marine Le Pen, the leader of the “National Community” party, whose party is in the lead, asked the people to participate strongly to determine the assignment of the remaining seats in the second round of the elections scheduled for July 7th, so that Jordan Bardella will finally be elected to the post of prime minister. 

However, after the initial results were announced, thousands of people participated in the protests. According to the Sputnik news agency, the demonstration was peaceful for several hours, but then radical youths from the Black Bloc movement joined the march, and the rallies turned violent. The extremists started provoking the police by throwing flashlights at the police, setting trash cans on fire, and breaking the windows of cafes.

Black bloc is a tactic used by a group of protesters dressed in black, who use cloth, sunglasses, ski masks, motorcycle helmets, or other items to cover and protect the face. This cover is used to hide the identity of the protesters and prevent their prosecution by making it difficult to identify the participants. It is also sometimes used to protect the face and eyes from the pepper spray of officers in demonstrations. This tactic allows groups to appear as one large, cohesive population.

The far-right party “National Community” led by Marine Le Pen is leading in the first round of elections with 34.2%, followed by the left-wing coalition “New Popular Front” and the centrist coalition of French President Emmanuel Macron with 29.1% and 21.5% are located. On June 9, following the heavy defeat of his coalition in the European Parliament elections, Macron called for early elections.

Marine Le Pen announced her victory in the first round of the parliamentary elections and said: “Macron’s camp is practically destroyed.”

Meanwhile, the French president has called for the formation of a “grand coalition” to deal with extreme right-wing parties. Emmanuel Macron has ordered his team to examine the state of each of his country’s constituencies to find coalitions to counter the far-right, which won the first round of early parliamentary elections. According to reports, Macron will hold a strategic meeting at the Elysee Palace this Monday to discuss the election results.

On the other hand, Jordan Bardella, one of the leaders of the French National Community Party, said that the French people have shown their excessive desire for change. He added: “With this massive victory, the people of France showed an unprecedented desire for change to the national community and its allies in the first round, and I am grateful to them.”

This French politician also asked the people to participate in the second round of the election, which is July 7th, and noted: “This vote is decisive in the entire history of France, and the presidential camp, which lost today, is no longer capable of winning.”

Bardella also announced his desire to become the prime minister of France and added: “I intend to become the prime minister of all French people, to listen to everyone’s words, to respect the opposition, to talk and strive for national unity, to protect power.” I am ready to buy, restore order and security throughout the country, and control immigration.”

Source: ISNA