More than 300,000 people joined May Day rallies across France on Wednesday, unions said, with protests mostly peaceful – apart from in Paris where masked demonstrators targeted Socialist MPs and dozens were arrested. Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau called the attacks “absolutely disgraceful and unacceptable”.
Trade unions urged the public to take to the streets for higher wages, the repeal of the pension reform that raised the retirement age to 64, and to oppose what they called the “Trumpification of the world” – a reference to US President Donald Trump’s populist policies.
Murielle Guilbert of the Solidarity union said she did not know “a single worker today who is not worried about what Trump is doing, and rising racism”.
Socialist party targeted
In the capital, Socialist MPs were targeted by demonstrators dressed in black, some carrying far-left anti-fascist flags. Chanting “Everyone hates the PS”, the protesters forced several lawmakers to withdraw from the march.
Socialist MP Jérôme Guedj, who had left an anti-Islamophobia rally the previous Sunday after being subjected to anti-Semitic remarks, was again forced to leave.
“They hit people and charged, throwing several flares,” Guedj told the French news agency AFP, blaming anti-fascist activists for the violence.
Retailleau told BFMTV four Socialist activists and MPs suffered minor injuries. He confirmed the government planned to dissolve two militant left-wing groups: La Jeune Garde (The Young Guard), and Urgence Palestine.
Police reported 72 arrests across the country, including 52 in Paris. A total of 28 people were placed in provisional custody, 19 of them in the capital.
Asked about the scenes, the leading left-wing CGT union's chief Sophie Binet told television interviewers: "These are acts of violence which are not welcome in our processions."
Still, she insisted that “this day of demonstrations was a great success, we’ve recorded 270 marches in all of France”.
The far-left France Unbowed (LFI) party sought to distance itself from the violence.
“We do not agree that political disagreements should be resolved like that,” said LFI national coordinator Manuel Bompard, calling on the media to “stop imputing” actions to the party.
Far right in Narbonne
Unions and student groups had called for May Day to stand “against the far right, for peace, liberty and social justice”.
Several thousand people turned out in the southern city of Narbonne to counter a National Rally (RN) event nearby, where party leader Marine Le Pen and president Jordan Bardella spoke at a packed 5,000-seat venue.
RN continues to gain ground in the polls, with its candidate expected to lead the first round of the 2027 presidential race. Le Pen may be blocked from running if a five-year ban linked to the misuse of EU funds is upheld.
Speaking at the rally, Le Pen accused the government of undermining democracy. “They stole your victory in 2024 and now they want to steal 2027,” she said, echoing Trump’s false claims about the 2020 US election.
Protests against job cuts
In Dunkerque, around 1,000 demonstrators marched in support of steelworkers from ArcelorMittal, where 600 jobs are at risk.
Philippe Lux from the CGT union compared the situation to the decline of the steel industry in Lorraine, warning that Dunkerque could suffer the same fate.
Jean-Baptiste François, who has worked at the site for 15 years, said: “We went from 170 jobs lost last week to 300 today. What’s next?”
Socialist leader Olivier Faure and other left-wing figures backed the workers’ calls. Two measures were announced: a parliamentary hearing with ArcelorMittal management and a draft bill proposing state oversight of the Dunkerque plant.
