As was expected, there was violence in the streets of Paris during the May Day celebrations.
French authorities were expecting a heady mix of labour unionists, “yellow vest” demonstrators and hardline hooligans to hit the streets on Labour Day.
A protester of the ‘Gilets Jaunes’ (Yellow Vests) movement throws a projectile towards riot police during a demonstration by French trade unions members and the ‘Gilets Jaunes’ (Yellow Vests) movement marking Labor Day in Paris, France. EPA-Photo: EFE/YOAN VALAT
Authorities have warned that this year’s May 1 marches could be tense, coming barely a week after leaders of the yellow vest anti-government movement angrily dismissed a package of tax cuts by President Emmanuel Macron.
And with trade unions hoping to raise their profile and thuggish “casseurs” vowing to turn Paris into “the capital of rioting”, the government has pledged to deploy security on an “exceptional scale” throughout the capital.
Officials are bracing for a repeat of last year’s May 1 violence, when they were caught off guard by some 1,200 trouble-makers who ran amok in Paris, vandalizing businesses and clashing with police.
More than 7,400 police and gendarmes will be deployed across Paris on Wednesday, with orders from Macron to take an “extremely firm stance” if faced with any violence
Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said the authorities had found several groups on social media urging protesters to transform the city into “the capital of rioting”, with police gearing up for the arrival of up to 2,000 activists bristling for a fight.
