Paris police said 3,000 people gathered in Paris on Monday evening, at a demonstration against the far right, which made historic gains in the European elections on Sunday. Other gatherings took place around the country.

Paris police said 3,000 people gathered in Paris on Monday evening, at a demonstration against the far right, which made historic gains in the European elections on Sunday. Other gatherings took place around the country.

Thousands of people gathered in several cities across France on Monday, June 10, in the evening, following the far-right Rassemblement National’s surge at the polls in the European elections and French President Emmanuel Macron’s announcement of a dissolution of the Assemblée Nationale.

Paris police said 3,000 people had gathered on the Place de la République in Paris at 8 pm. Many of them were young people, chanting with middle fingers raised, slogans such as “Everybody hates Marine Le Pen.”

“The prospect of having a far-right prime minister in three weeks terrifies me,” said Alice, a 24-year-old student. Alba Bourreau, 19, an arts student, was taking part in her “first political demonstration,” having voted on Sunday for the first time, saying she’s “ready to come and demonstrate as much as we need to.” “We’ve come to mobilize against fascism, and because we’re fed up with this image that France votes right or far right. The left also exists. It’s in the streets tonight,” said Luna, 19.

  • Weirdmusic@lemmy.worldEnglish
    548·
    5 months ago

    Real power comes from the ballot box. No point in demonstrating if you don’t vote.

    • TropicalDingdong@lemmy.worldEnglish
      381·
      5 months ago

      I mean I think this represents the core of Macrons strategy. Force the issue. Don’t wait. Get people emotionally worked up and do so quickly. Don’t wait for things to cool off.

      • Sanctus@lemmy.worldEnglish
        14·
        5 months ago

        Let’s hope it works. It fucken sucks watching the world turn right when we need to embrace real solutions and unity to overcome these new challenges. Not deny them and drink the juice.

        • TropicalDingdong@lemmy.worldEnglish
          141·
          5 months ago

          It definitely fits the bill of the “bold move Cotton” meme template.

          I personally side with WWII General Pattons quote on planning:

          "“A good plan, violently executed now, is better than a perfect plan next week.”

          Too many political leaders think they have until next week to figure out how to deal with the rising tide of fascism globally. They don’t. If Macron thinks he’s got the nuts or at least a hand that plays, I say push the chips. Because next week you won’t have a stronger position.

    • inlandempire@jlai.luEnglish
      222·
      5 months ago

      I would argue voting is one of the lowest forms of participation in the political life of one’s country, but that’s not a debate I’m ready to have at this hour

      • barsoapEnglish
        4·
        5 months ago

        Yes it is the lowest form of participation and that’s also why there’s no excuse not to cast your ballot. Unless the ballot literally gets stuffed, turn up, if you can’t bring yourself to vote for any of the parties with reasonable chances vote for a satirical or random micro party. The animal protection one seems to be popular in Germany, heck they might get a seat and cause something to happen from the opposition benches, I rather have an opposition full of vegans than full of Nazis. That failing, invalidate your ballot. Nothing too untoward, ballot counters aren’t your enemy.

        • inlandempire@jlai.luEnglish
          2·
          5 months ago

          Agreed, half an hour out of one’s day on a Sunday isn’t much to at least get involved however small it is

    • menas@lemmy.wtfEnglish
      512·
      5 months ago

      Macron has been elected has an opposition to the far right. After increase exiled deportation and people killed by the police, he decide to dissolute the assembly and literally build a straight way to the first far right french government since WWII

      So no, ballot boy is the smallest kind of power. It’s still is, but the was never a concrete left government without insurrection strike (popular front 1936) or armed unioniste (1946).

      • Burn_The_Right@lemmy.worldEnglish
        3·
        5 months ago

        If he did nothing, he could be ousted and the conservatism would get even worse. We are at the edge of complete fascist domination in the EU and the US. Desperate times call for bold moves. He made the smart play, given that doing nothing will almost certainly result in a far right take-over.

        • Miaou@jlai.luEnglish
          3·
          5 months ago

          The smart thing would have been not to give away the European elections to Bardella. He deserves no praise for gambling our country on 4d-chess political moves. He wants to be De Gaulle, but he’s looking more like a Hindenburg.