between 120,000 and 150,000 demonstrators anticipated all through France; 265 occasions recorded | EUROtoday

After a robust united mobilization in 2023 in opposition to pension reform, the principle unions are calling to take to the streets on Wednesday 1^er May with varied calls for. On this International Workers' Day, the General Confederation of Labor (CGT) lists greater than 265 rallies and demonstrations throughout France, within the vary ” high “in response to his secretary, Céline Verzeletti.

Some processions began at 10 a.m., corresponding to in Strasbourg, Marseille and Clermont-Ferrand. In Paris, the demonstration should begin at 2 p.m. from Place de la République in direction of Place de la Nation. On a nationwide degree, “120,000 to 150,000” demonstrators are anticipated, in response to a notice from the territorial intelligence companies. This is considerably lower than in 2023, when the mobilization introduced collectively almost 800,000 demonstrators, in response to the authorities and a couple of.3 million, in response to the CGT. For comparability, it was eight to 10 occasions greater than in 2022, when the police counted some 116,000 demonstrators and the CGT, 210,000.

In Paris, between 15,000 and 30,000 individuals are anticipated by the authorities, together with 400 to 800 radical demonstrators. Pro-Palestinian activists might swell the ranks of the processions, significantly in Paris, and the ” critics “ Olympic Games may benefit from this free platform, says the data notice. But the authorities typically count on demonstrations “with a rather festive and family character” And “more peaceful” than final 12 months, when the day was marked by typically violent clashes within the capital and different cities corresponding to Nantes or Lyon. According to police sources, 12,000 cops and gendarmes will likely be mobilized, together with 5,000 in Paris.

No nationwide inter-professional slogan

Unity stays fairly broad, because the French Democratic Confederation of Labor (CFDT) and Unsa will likely be with the CGT, FSU and Solidaires. But, in contrast to 2023, the place the eight major French unions (CFDT, CGT, FO, CFE-CGC, CFTC, UNSA, Solidaires, FSU) marched collectively in opposition to pension reform, there is no such thing as a phrase of nationwide interprofessional order.

The CGT, FSU, and Solidaires, in addition to youth organizations together with the UNEF, the FAGE or the MNL (National High School Movement), have launched a joint enchantment specifically “against austerity”for employment and wages and even peace. “We demand to live better!” »proclaims the middle led by Sophie Binet, denouncing specifically “government violence”whereas a brand new unemployment insurance coverage reform is introduced in addition to a “Work II” legislation anticipated within the fall.

The first French union, the CFDT, for its half known as for “join the processions organized throughout France, to demand a more ambitious and more protective Europe for workers”. Its primary, Marylise Léon, will likely be in Nancy, the place she’s going to take part in a debate on the problems of the European elections. His FO counterpart, Frédéric Souillot, will likely be virtually on the different finish of France, in Montauban, in Occitanie.

As the European elections strategy, a number of main candidates will likely be current within the processions corresponding to that of the Socialist Party (PS) and Place publique, Raphaël Glucksmann, in Saint-Etienne or La France insoumise (LFI), Manon Aubry, in Lyon then Paris.

Even if “it will be different from last year”Céline Verzeletti, expects ” a 1^er-May important in mobilization »on the background “attacks on freedoms”including unions, and a social situation “very degraded”. “This was not seen by certain unions as absolutely requiring unity on this day”, observes Murielle Guilbert, co-delegate of Solidaires. But, she said, given the issues of the moment, “we better have a nice 1^er-May “.