Thursday, May 02, 2002
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By Vaiju Naravane
UNFLAGGING ZEAL?: The French extreme-right National Front presidential candidate, Jean-Marie Le Pen, salutes supporters during a speech in Paris on Wednesday. — Reuters
Paris May 1. The spectre of the extreme right in France has shaken the French out of their apathy. Over a million people demonstrated in France today to protest against the xenophobic, extreme right wing National Front whose leader, Jean-Marie Le Pen, staged a stunning upset in the first round of presidential elections here on April 21. Fears of street violence at May Day demonstrations proved to be unfounded and the two marches, one organised by Mr. Le Pen's extreme right National Front and the other by those opposed to him passed off peacefully. Up to a million people demonstrated peacefully throughout France on Wednesday against Mr. Le Pen, by far the largest turnout yet against the ultra-nationalist politician since he qualified for Sunday's presidential runoff. The marchers belonged to different trades unions, associations and political parties. The slogan today was "Together against Le Pen". Placards carried by the demonstrators read "No to racism, no to hate" and "The revolution has begun." A man had hung the sign "I eat fascists" around the neck of his pet dog. At 4 p.m. local time, thousands of marchers, blocked in smaller back streets, were still trying to join the main demonstration as it crawled forward from the Place de la Republique to the Bastille. Police estimate there were 200,00 Persons in Paris. The organisers claim there were at least twice that number. The huge boulevard that takes cars five abreast was thick with people, chanting, singing, exchanging bouquets of lilly of the valley, the customary greeting on May Day in France. "I have always voted left and I have always taken part in the May Day celebrations, but this year it is special. I think all of France is here. We have heard the wake up call. Le Pen shall not be allowed to pass. There is no room for the likes of him here," said Mrs Martine Couturier, a retired factory worker. Even before a massive demonstration in Paris reached its peak, turnout in dozens of cities across the rest of France had reached nearly 900,000, according to the Interior Ministry and media. The National Front held its own rival demonstration with a wreath laying ceremony at the statue of Joan of Arc in Paris. Police say there were about 10,000 demonstrators though the National Front claims 100,000 persons joined in. In a rambling speech that lasted an hour and a half and which was frequently interrupted by lound handclapping by his supporters, the 73 year old Mr Le Pen criticised his rival, incumbent conservative President, Jacques Chirac, who he said was guilty of corruption and dishonesty. In an annual May Day event that took on added importance this year because of Mr. Le Pen's surprise candidacy, the candidate laid a bouquet of white flowers at a gilded statue of Joan of Arc riding a horse and waving the national flag. For Mr. Le Pen's National Front party, the 15th century peasant girl who led a series of victories against the English is a symbol of French resistance against foreign `invaders'. Mr. Le Pen promised an "electoral earthquake'' in the election's final round, which pits him against Mr. Chirac, who is expected to win easily. "The ground's going to crumble under their feet,'' he said. Wednesday was clearly the climax of growing national protests against Mr. Le Pen. Some 3,500 police were deployed in Paris alone. Huge rallies were held in other French towns like Lyon, Bordeaux,Strasburg, Grenoble and Toulouse. In Paris, good-natured crowds shouting "Down with Le Pen!'' packed the streets near the site of the former Bastille prison. Many were singing or playing musical instruments, and a few people handed out sing-along lyrics mocking the far-right leader.
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