What began as peaceful May Day protests turned violent in Paris as police fired tear gas to control the crowds, leading to clashes with demonstrators.
Thousands of people marched through the streets of the French capital on Wednesday, seeking better pay and working conditions.
Authorities reported that 12 police officers were hospitalised after a homemade explosive detonated during the march. At least 45 people were detained as a result of the scattered violence that erupted during the demonstration.
A group of protesters in Paris set makeshift Olympic rings on fire to express discontent with the upcoming Summer Games, set to start in less than three months.
France’s unions have already warned of potential strikes during the Olympic Games if the government fails to provide adequate compensation to workers forced to work during summer holidays.
Despite the disturbances in Paris, protests took place across France, including in major cities like Marseille, Toulouse, Lyon, and Nantes.
Demonstrators held a variety of banners, with some advocating for higher wages and better working conditions, while others called for a ceasefire in Gaza.
The lower turnout compared to last year’s protests was noted, suggesting a potential shift in public sentiment following the contentious pension reforms forced through parliament by President Emmanuel Macron’s government without a vote.
Sylvie Demange, a 59-year-old librarian from Paris, expressed her concern about various issues, including the “rise of the far right”, “salary inequalities”, and the government’s top-down approach to decision-making.
The CGT union claimed more than 200,000 people joined the protests across France, while the interior ministry estimated a lower turnout at around 121,000. This is significantly less than last year when the authorities reported over 800,000 demonstrators, while the CGT union claimed a turnout of 2.3 million.
The protests are set against a backdrop of ongoing conflict in Gaza, which began after the October 7 Hamas attack on southern Israel. This attack killed 1,170 people, mostly civilians, and resulted in 250 hostages being taken by Palestinian militants.
Israel‘s retaliatory strikes have killed at least 34,568 people in Gaza, with most casualties being women and children, according to the Gaza health ministry.
As France prepares for the upcoming European Parliament elections, the CFDT union is calling for a more ambitious Europe that better protects workers, amid growing concerns about the influence of far-right political parties.
Opinion polls suggest that Macron’s centrist alliance is trailing behind the far-right National Rally (RN) party, raising questions about the political direction of France and Europe.