Around 300.000 people demonstrated in France on May Day today, including 100.000 in Paris, the CGT union said, adding that the protest was "against the extreme right, as well as for peace, freedom and social justice."
"This day of protests was a great success. We recorded 270 demonstrations across France," Sophie Bine, president of the General Confederation of Labour (CGT) union, told French media.
The unions that called for the gatherings wanted to oppose the "Trumpification of the world," said Miriel Gilbert, a representative of one of the Solidarni unions.
According to her, since Donald Trump came to power, there has not been a single employee who is not concerned about what Trump is doing and the rise in racism.
The Paris rally was marked by incidents. The Socialist Party condemned physical attacks on some of its activists and members, while the leader of the Socialist parliamentary group, Boris Valo, promised legal action would be taken.
Dunkirk, a port city in northern France, held May Day parades amid concerns about the situation at the ArcelorMittal steel plant, which plans to cut about 600 jobs.
Several hundred people gathered in that city at the call of the CGT, in the presence of several political officials, including representatives of socialists, environmentalists and the radical left.
French authorities have not yet released the number of people gathered at protests across the country. Last year, the CGT counted 210.000 demonstrators in France (including 50.000 in Paris), while the authorities put the number at 121.000.
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