Thousands of young people demonstrate in Paris against the far right

Thousands of young people, dissatisfied with the result of the European elections, which dictated the victory of the National Union (RN), gathered in Paris to protest against the rise of far-right forces in France.

“I’m here today [segunda-feira] because when I saw the results of yesterday’s elections [domingo] and everything that followed, with the dissolution of the Assembly, made me very angry,” Emma, ​​24, told Lusa.

The demonstration, which began at 20:00 (in Lisbon at 19:00), attracted thousands of people, mostly young people, who arrived gradually and quickly filled the Republic Square.

For Emma, ​​the protest shows that “young people are very political” and “they want to improve the state of the planet, they understand that they will have to deal with immigration, that they will have to accept people, and that accepting the far right will not help the future of the planet.”

“In my parents’ and grandparents’ generation, there is a certain weariness and perhaps a way of looking at things that makes them no longer believe in them, and so they don’t vote, but it’s a way of looking at things that isn’t very good. accepted by young people,” he added.

The call, launched by youth organizations such as the Students’ Union, Young Environmentalists and Young Defiant, was published on social networks under the slogan “Youth don’t care about the National Front” – the name of Marine Le Pen’s party until In 2018 it became known as the National Union (RN in its French acronym).

“Today I am on the street because the National Front won the last European elections and it is not normal for the fascist movement to grow so much, whether in Europe or in France, and we must show that we can be a great movement of young people fighting against this ” he told Luca Camilla, 22.

Several young people approached the central monument dedicated to the Republic, desecrated with insulting words directed at the main RN candidate Jordan Bardella, to coordinate applause and chants, including “the whole world hates Bardella,” “Paris, Paris Antifa,” “Fuck the National.” Front” and “Free Palestine”.

Regarding French President Emmanuel Macron’s decision to dissolve parliament and call early legislative elections, Camille believes that “things could be difficult if the left parties do not unite.”

“We want to say a big no to the far right,” Camilla said, noting that “if all young people go out to vote, they can form a good opposition to fascism.”

The protesters were accompanied by various flags of youth organizations, pyrotechnic equipment, and posters such as “My France will hold its head high,” “Anti-fascism is everyone’s business,” and “Unite in the name of God!”

Police arrived in the area and eventually restricted traffic to allow protesters to move without incident, as many drivers passing through the square also joined the protest, honking their horns in support.

Student union spokeswoman Eleanor Schmitt told the France-Presse news agency that the purpose of the demonstration was “to call on people to come together and show that young people reject what happened yesterday.” [domingo] with the results of the European elections,” referring to the need for a “united popular uprising.”

In its statement, the French General Confederation of Labor also called on workers to participate “in all mobilization initiatives against the far right and against the policies of Emmanuel Macron.”

Other demonstrations were planned for Monday evening in cities including Marseille and Lille.

The RN won the European elections with 31.37% of the vote, electing 30 of the 81 French MEPs, while the French President’s Party (Renaissance) coalition received 14.6%, guaranteeing 13 seats in the European Parliament.

As a result, Macron announced legislative elections for June 30 and July 7.