On Thursday, May 1, International Workers’ Day rallies across France attracted over 300,000 participants, including 100,000 in Paris. The Paris rally faced issues with violence directed at center-left marchers, prompting the Socialist Party (PS) to condemn the physical aggression against its members and representatives. Protesters chanted, ‘Everyone hates the PS,’ with some displaying far-left anti-fascist flags. The PS frequently faces accusations of betrayal from radical and hard-left factions.
Socialist deputy Jerome Guedj, who left a rally against Islamophobia after being subjected to anti-Semitic insults, required an escort from the event. Guedj stated, ‘They hit people and charged,’ attributing the violence to anti-fascist activists. In response to the incidents, CGT union leader Sophie Binet remarked during a television interview, ‘These acts of violence are unwelcome in our processions.’ Nevertheless, she noted, ‘This day of demonstrations was a significant success, with 270 marches recorded across France.’ The hard-left France Unbowed (LFI) party attempted to dissociate itself from the violence against PS lawmakers, with LFI national coordinator Manuel Bompard stating, ‘We do not believe that political disagreements should be settled in this manner,’ and urged the media to refrain from linking the party to such actions.
However, the 2024 Labor Day occurred amid a divided French trade union movement. Various unions, including the CGT, and youth organizations called for marches ‘against the far right, for peace, liberty, and social justice.’ The far-right National Rally party is currently performing well in polls, with predictions that its candidate will lead the first round of the 2027 presidential election, even if long-time leader Marine Le Pen is compelled to withdraw due to legal issues. Following the 100th day of Donald Trump’s second term in office, Murielle Guilbert from the Solidarity union expressed that the marches aimed to raise awareness ‘against the Trumpification of the world.’
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