Multitudes demonstrate in Paris against perceived political disaster

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May Day is a significant mark, symbolizing workers' rebellion rather than their labor. The situation, both locally in France and globally, is dire and unacceptable, as expressed by Catherine, a 68-year-old retiree, in an interview with Lusa agency.

Catherine, enjoying the social benefits, wishes the younger generations could experience the same rights, as she views the current government's worker's rights policy as a "disaster."

The march, organized by various unions like the General Confederation of Labor (CGT), the Unified Trade Union Federation (FSU), and Solidaires, began at 2 PM local time (1 PM Lisbon time) from Place d'Italie, in the heart of Paris's 13th arrondissement, and headed towards Place de la Nation, roughly four kilometers away.

Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the leader of France Insoumise (LFI, radical left), addressed the crowd before the march, advocating for the fall of the current center-right government led by French Prime Minister François Bayrou.

According to Catherine, the government's policies strip workers of their defense mechanisms, fail to compensate lost jobs, and create a stringent environment to save money. Young people, like the elderly, suffer from poor pay and job scarcity.

Catherine has participated in multiple May Day marches and believes this year more people will join the ranks, with as many young as old taking to the streets.

However, for Catherine, the demonstration will merely be another one, although she hopes it will make a difference.

In France, over 250 demonstrations were reported, some with altercations between participants. The CGT claims over 250,000 protesters nationwide.

Authorities anticipated between 10,000 to 15,000 participants in Paris on this day, with potential disruptions likely not from organizers but extremist groups. During the afternoon, temperatures hovered near 30°C in Paris, making it a scorcher. Traditionally, lily-of-the-valley, or "lucky flowers," are sold in the streets during this time.

The parade was lively, with participants chanting slogans about pensions, wages, peace, and opposition to far-right ideologies. Flags from Palestine, Lebanon, France, and LGBTQIA+ were carried, and the route was accompanied by drums and whistles.

For Gérard, a 55-year-old architect, the demonstration signifies a glimmer of hope to improve the lives of workers, arguing that work should be well-paid. The architect has attended May Day marches for several years and believes the country's situation is in shambles.

"Our only rights are to protest or vote, but when we vote, we never get the candidate we want. So, we protest even if the results are low," laments the architect.

According to Jade, a 23-year-old student-worker, the French situation is chaotic. This chaos has stirred young people to take up the mantle and fight for social causes, including defending workers' rights and opposing eroding labor protections.

Blanche, a 20-year-old student, believes young people should be more engaged in social struggles, despite Paris having a young, educated, and financially comfortable population.

"There's a tendency to divide workers and the lower classes, who have less tendency to fight united," warns her colleague Romain, 23, pointing to the growing racism in society.

"We're here today to defend workers' rights and to promote social peace. And to prevent the same wealthy people from always getting richer while deceiving the majority of the people," declares student Merivan, 21.

According to Rachel, 21, this action is part of an important legacy, fighting against persisting problems for centuries.

Police closely monitored the area to prevent significant disturbances. Several arrests were made prior to the Paris demonstration for possession of prohibited weapons, violent gatherings, and drug possession, according to the Police on the X social network.

During the demonstration, the Socialist Party (PS) was insulted and attacked, with their stand destroyed until the arrival of police. The party's spokesperson, Chloé Ridel, was present and insisted they would not be intimidated.

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The May Day parade, hosted in Paris, traversed a perimeter of approximately four kilometers, starting from Place d'Italie and ending at Place de la Nation, with the participation of various unions, including the General Confederation of Labor (CGT), the Unified Trade Union Federation (FSU), and Solidaires.
Despite the heat, many French citizens young and old persisted in attending the May Day parade, with some, like Catherine, a 68-year-old retiree, participating multiple times, as they view it as a means to defend workers' rights and promote social peace.
Beyond France, workers across the world stage similar protests, advocating for similar causes, such as the preservation of labor protections and fair wages, reflecting the global nature of workers' struggles.
As expressed by Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the leader of France Insoumise (LFI), the demonstrations serve as a platform for the French public to express their discontent with the current center-right government, either through voting or peaceful protests, as citizens like Gérard, a 55-year-old architect, hope to create a world where work is well-paid and workers' rights are protected.