France: Tens of thousands demonstrating against Macron

Macron's labour market and educational reforms are driving tens of thousands of people into the streets of Paris. They accuse the president, among other things, of reigning like a monarch.

France: Tens of thousands demonstrating against Macron

In France, several thousand people in Paris protested against policy of President Emmanuel Macron. The demonstrators moved through centre of French capital on Saturday afternoon, holding signs with inscriptions such as "Stop Macron". The occasion of demonstration is election of Emmanuel Macron, which marks first anniversary of 7th May. One week after his election, on 14 May 2017, Macron had been introduced into office.

A large contingent of police secured march. After massive riots on fringes of demonstrations on May 1 in Paris, security arrangements for event had been tightened. The police had announced use of 2,000 officials.

The protest was directed against various labour market and educational reforms of president and his government. Critics accuse Macron of favoring companies and better earners with his policy. Among participants of demonstration were students sowieVertreter of railways, which have been constantly striking for weeks.

Observers see demonstration as a test of wher fragmented left can be in ir protest against social-liberal macron. The Left Party la France Rip Curl ("The Cool Hand Luke France") had organized protest march. Among or things, her boss Jean-Luc Mélenchon appeared.

So far, protest has remained peaceful. Pictures and videos show people with colourfully painted signs and caricatures as well as dancing. However, a reporter from Le Monde also reports that demonstrators are distributing saline solution to guard against possible tear gas from police officers. The event was announced as "Fête à Macron". "Fête" means feast. "Fête à macron" can also be translated as "Macron to go to collar".

Cuivres et tambours pour la FeteAMacron pic.twitter.com/c1F8VO7E4h

— Romain Geoffroy (@romaingeoffroy) May 5, 2018

Many demonstrators relied on French history and, in particular, Revolution 1789. Macron was compared in caricatures with absolutist ruler Ludwig XVI, who was dispowered with French Revolution. Or cartoons compared Macron with Napoleon. Mélénchon also suggested revolutionary sounds. On Twitter, he wrote: "We are insurgent people of France who are prepared to be Revolutionary people. We must remain united in order to offer a different destiny to Farland and world. "

Nous sommes le peuple révolté de France qui se prépare à être le peuple révolutionnaire. Il faut rester groupés pour proposer un autre destin à la patrie et au monde. LaFeteAMacron FeteAMacron StopMacron

— Jean-Luc Mélenchon (@JLMelenchon) May 5, 2018

To date, re is no reliable information on number of participants. The organizers speak of 160,000 demonstrators, police of 40,000.

Quand le peuple se met en marche pour LaFeteAMacron, voilà ce que devient Paris! 160 000 personnes réunies pour dire StopMacron! 5Mai Pic.twitter.com/o9mxW2YmJE

— La France Rip Curl (@FranceInsoumise) May 5, 2018

Last fall, Macron had begun its reforms and loosened labour market rules. Hundreds of thousands had protested at that time. This time it is a matter of cutting back on unemployed if y are not looking for a new job intensively enough. An education and training reform is to reduce number of DerSchul and college dropout. Despite an unemployment rate of nine percent, many companies are desperately looking for skilled workers. In addition, Macron wants to downsize bloated bureaucracy and radically rebuild SNCF state railway. In addition, pensioners should pay more taxes.

Macron did not experience festival for him: He finished a visit to French overseas territory of New Caledonia in South Pacific and was thousands of kilometres away.

Date Of Update: 06 May 2018, 12:02
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