France erupts in wild protests over prospect of far right victory at election

Hundreds of thousands took to the streets across the country after a week of chaos and new alliances in the political ranks.

Hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets across France to protest the rise of the far right as the European superpower prepares for a landmark election.

President Emmanuel Macron called snap legislative elections amid the fallout from this month’s EU parliament poll, and the success of far-right party National Rally.

The nationwide protests on Saturday were spurred by the shock move this week by the Republicans right-wing party leader Eric Ciotti to seek an election pact with the RN.

There were chaotic scenes this week when Ciotti closed the party’s national headquarters after he was ousted as leader, with a court later ruling that decision was invalid.

Demonstrators were out in force against the far right in France. Picture: Romain Perrocheua/ AFP

In Paris, police estimated 75,000 people responded to calls for a protest from unions, associations and a new left-wing political coalition formed for the upcoming elections.

The CGT union put the figure at 640,000 protesters at a total of 182 rallies including 250,000 in Paris demonstrating against the prospect of a victory for the far right.

If that were to happen, National Rally leader Jordan Bardella could become prime minister.

Police estimated the total figure to be more than 200,000 people across the country on Saturday local time.

“I thought I would never see the far right come to power and now it could happen,” Paris protester Florence David, 60, said.

“No need to vote RN to love France,” was among the slogans used.

Police used tear gas on some unruly protesters. Picture: Lou Benoist/AFP

The marches were mostly calm, apart from a few brief episodes of tension in Rennes and Nantes in western France where police used tear gas on a few dozen hard-left activists.

Street infrastructure was damaged in Paris, and hooded protesters targeted a bank branch.

Police were also peppered with bottles thrown from the crowd, to which they responded with tear gas, AFP correspondents said.

Ex-president makes surprise comeback

Voters turned out en masse for the National Rally at last weekend’s EU parliament elections, with the party earning 30 per cent of ballots.

Former Socialist president Francois Hollande has announced he will stand again for parliament in legislative elections, in the latest political twist the country has faced.

Emmanuel Macron has called on voters to reject the far right. Picture: Urs Flueeler/AFP

Jordan Bardella is the leader of National Rally. Picture: Guillaume Souvant/AFP

A new left-wing alliance has also emerged and the main right-wing party’s leader has announced he is prepared to back an alliance with the far right.

Hollande, France’s president from 2012-2017, left office with record levels of unpopularity and is detested by parts of the radical left.

Even the Socialist leadership regards him with suspicion.

He said he would stand as an MP for the southwestern Correze department for the New Popular Front, a left-wing grouping formed for the elections that includes Socialists, hard-left, Greens and Communists.

Former president of France Francois Hollande will run for left wing coalition Nouveau Front Populaire. Picture: Pascal Lachenaud/AFP

‘Be of service’

“An exceptional decision for an exceptional situation,” Hollande told reporters in the department’s main town of Tulle, explaining his surprise comeback.

“I am not seeking anything for myself,” he insisted, after a flurry of recent media appearances sparked speculation he might be eyeing a return to the Elysee Palace. “I just want to be of service.”

Hollande has already backed the new broad left-wing alliance, saying that we “must all do everything to make sure the far right does not come to power in France”.

He is not the first president to run for legislative elections after leaving the Elysee Palace. In 1984, three years after his defeat against Francois Mitterrand in presidential elections, Valery Giscard d’Estaing was elected MP for the Puy-de-Dome department.

Officially, the Socialist Party reacted coolly to the move, with the head of its election commission Pierre Jouvet simply saying that it “takes note” of the candidacy.