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Mai River runs alongside the Paris-Paris highway.

International Labor Solidarity Day, initially celebrated in May, observed a decrease in chaos but maintained its noise level in France this year. Authorities reported fewer physical altercations and fewer arrests compared to the previous year. It is worth noting that not every worker adheres to...

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Mai River runs alongside the Paris-Paris highway.

Celebrating Workers' Day in France: A Day of Division and Dispute

The first day of May, internationally recognized as Labor Day, saw a mix of noise and discord rather than harmony in France this year. Fortunately, the chaos was somewhat tempered compared to the previous year, with fewer altercations and arrests taking place. However, it was evident that not all French workers share the spirit of solidarity. Our correspondent Alexei Tarhanov from France offers this report.

According to union data, approximately 300,000 people participated in various demonstrations across France on May 1st, with around 100,000 in Paris alone. Nevertheless, the authorities, who counted the demonstrators, reported only 157,000 attendees. The manifestations varied, with Paris seeing columns of participants gathered by parties and unions march from Place d'Italie to Place de la Nation via the Austerlitz bridge.

The skies above Austerlitz were a brilliant blue, with the temperature reaching a comfortable 25°C, making for a perfect day for a leisurely stroll.

Representatives from all unions, including Solidaires, FSU, and the most forceful and assertive CGT, which, along with transport workers, plans to disrupt holidays with strikes on the railways from May 5th to 8th, were part of the march. The unions called for "demonstrations for peace, for our pensions, and for our wages." Among them were also remnants of the "yellow vests" movement, serving as a reminder of the destruction and futility of their protests to the younger generation.

Marching alongside the workers were representatives from all left-wing parties, while right-wing representatives were busy at work. For instance, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau ensured the safety of the demonstrations, while far-right members of the "National Rally" led by Marine Le Pen traveled to Narbonne (department of Aude) to protest against a court decision that could bar the party leader from the 2027 presidential election.

Previous photo Next photo Photo: Gonzalo Fuentes / Reuters

Photo: Gonzalo Fuentes / Reuters

Photo: Gonzalo Fuentes / Reuters

During her speech, Marine Le Pen appealed to the sympathies of her supporters, declaring, "I need you now." As the leader of the RN faction in the National Assembly, she warned of the government's attempts to prevent her from running for president and the far-right's aspirations for the French people's support being misplaced.

The rally did not go entirely smoothly. Marie Le Pen's speech was interrupted by members of the anti-Semitism fighting group Nous Vivrons ("We Will Survive"), who held up signs reading "You are not the defense of the Jewish people." They were swiftly removed from the hall, but one could practically hear the same accusations being thrown at the Le Pen supporters, accusing them of not being the knights of the Round Table or the poets of the Pleiades.

Previous photograph Next photograph Photo: Gonzalo Fuentes / Reuters Photo: Gonzalo Fuentes / Reuters

Disagreements also quickly emerged in the Parisian labor ranks, with Turkish leftist protesters attacking and harassing Socialist Party (PS) lawmakers during the rallies. The hard-left France Unbowed (LFI) party distanced itself from the violence, but they faced scrutiny from critics over ideological differences with the PS[1][3].

The Unifying Threat: Global Politics and the Far-Right

Underneath the surface of the labor movement, there is a general fear of the "Trumpification of the world"[1][2] and the rise of racism, reflecting concerns over Donald Trump's policies and France's own surging National Rally (far-right party polling strongly for 2027)[1][2]. This existential threat narrative competed with localized labor grievances, leading to friction in rally messaging[2][5].

Data from Les Echos, Yahoo News, FRANCE 24, Le Parisien, and Aujourd'hui en France.

  1. The Parisian participants in the labor demonstrations represented a diverse array of unions, including Solidaires, FSU, and CGT, who called for demonstrations for peace, pensions, and wages.
  2. The number of participants in the May 1st demonstrations in France varied based on the source; according to union data, approximately 300,000 people participated, while the authorities reported 157,000 attendees.
  3. A fact worth noting is that the unity among French workers was not absolute, as incidents of division and discord were observed, such as Turkish leftist protesters attacking and harassing Socialist Party lawmakers.
  4. The politics of policy-and-legislation and general news, particularly the rise of the far-right and concerns over the "Trumpification of the world," played a significant role in shaping the discourse and underlying tensions within the French labor movement on this Workers' Day.
In France, this year's Labor Day observed on May 1st displayed less turbulence compared to the previous year, with fewer clashes and fewer arrests made. Yet, once more, it became evident that not all workers share a common spirit of unity.
Workers' Solidarity Day Observed in France With Reduced Unrest; Fewer Arrests Reported Compared to Previous Year, According to 'Kommersant' Correspondent Alexander Tarhanov.
In France this year, the initial May holiday, known as International Workers' Solidarity Day, was somewhat boisterous but fell short of being particularly stormy. Fewer scuffles occurred and fewer arrests were made compared to the previous year, according to the police. It was once more clear that not every worker embraces camaraderie.

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