Protests are expected in France

Anti-Le Pen protests are planned to take place throughout France on Saturday, as the far-right presidential candidate’s opponents try to unify to prevent her from defeating President Emmanuel Macron in a runoff election on April 24.

Demonstrators gathered in 30 towns around the country, prompting police to issue warnings about probable clashes.

A pro-European centrist, Macron was elected president in 2017 after convincingly defeating Le Pen in a runoff election in which people united to protect the extreme right from taking power.

There was a similar tussle in the first round of voting last year, but this time around, Macron has a considerably more difficult task.

Le Pen has a modest lead in the polls, but resentment over rising costs of living and a belief that Macron is distant from the problems that ordinary people face helped Le Pen win the first round on April 10. 23.1 percent of the votes were cast for her, compared with 27.85 percent for Emmanuel Macron.

Since this week’s emphasis on her agenda and opinion surveys suggest that Macron has increased his advantage, she’s seemed more nervous. President Obama had a 56 percent lead in a survey conducted by Ipsos-Sopra-Steria on Friday.

Nicolas Sarkozy and Francois Hollande have endorsed him. Hundreds of celebrities and sports stars have also come out in support of him to stop the rise of the far-right leader, Marine Le Pen.

Anti-immigrant and Euroskeptic, Le Pen has worked to soften her public image and that of her National Rally party in recent years. Macron and others have accused Le Pen’s agenda of being full of false promises and falsehoods, which she has denied.

Right-wing candidates are in the second round of the presidential election again, buoyed by a hitherto unseen level of support. In a joint statement with dozens of other rights organisations, unions, and organisations, the French Human Rights League said, “We refuse to watch it achieve power.”

While campaigning in southern France, Le Pen told reporters the planned demonstrations were undemocratic.

‘The establishment is concerned,’ she remarked. “It is highly undemocratic that people are protesting election results.” I’d want to encourage everyone to cast their ballots. That’s all there is to it.”

With the electorate split and uncertain, the candidate who can persuade voters that the other choice is significantly worse is likely to win the election.

Right-wing candidates have been kept out of power for decades by a “republican front” of moderate voters.

The French president, whose rightward leaning policies and aggressive demeanour have turned off many supporters, can no longer depend on that support.

Extinction Rebellion, a group of anti-global warming activists, shut down a major Paris plaza on Saturday to protest the environmental policies of both candidates.

An environmentalist who joined the movement two years ago tells Reuters that this election “leaves us no option except to choose between a far-right politician with abhorrent ideals and one who for five years left the ecological problem aside and lied.”

There will also be anti-Macron protests in Paris on Saturday night.

Also Read

Priti Patel could face a revolt

Overruling Home Office officers, Priti Patel may face a mutiny over plans...