Politics. Clashes during the May Day procession in Paris, the CGT announces 300,000 protesters in France

The Parisian ^May Day demonstration saw a sudden rise in tension on Thursday afternoon when black bloc members attacked a Socialist Party stand set up along a boulevard crossed by the procession. "Everyone hates the Socialist Party," chanted these protesters, hostile to the Socialist presence, in a tense atmosphere.

Law enforcement intervened to restore order. "We were insulted and then attacked by black blocs," Socialist Party MEP Chloé Ridel recounted on X. "They tore down our flags and banners, kicked, punched, and threw firecrackers. A comrade was dragged and lynched on the ground, another elected official was injured. Our security service courageously defended us until the police arrived. Our stand was destroyed," she added, condemning "the hatred and violence (...). Shame on those who claim to be people's supporters and march on Labor Day to attack other activists."

Socialist Party (PS) officials, including MP Jérôme Guedj, distanced themselves from the violent protesters. "We never leave the May Day demonstration because there are enemies of workers there," Jérôme Guedj replied to a journalist who asked him if he was leaving the scene.

Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau responded to X: "Law enforcement intervened to secure the scene and make arrests. I want to express my full support to the activists who were attacked. We will not back down in the face of the political violence that the far left is trying to establish in our country."

The police prefecture announced the arrest of 13 people in Paris. The demonstration continued between Place d'Italie (13th arrondissement) and Nation (20th arrondissement). The CGT (General Confederation of Trade Unions) counted 100,000 demonstrators in Paris.

The leader of the Socialist deputies, Boris Vallaud, denounced the "serious and unacceptable violence" and promised to take legal action. "Serious and unacceptable violence. These troublemakers are the enemies of workers and the left. My full support to the injured comrades," Boris Vallaud wrote on X, announcing that he would contact the public prosecutor.

More than 300,000 people demonstrated in France on Thursday for May Day, the CGT (General Confederation of Trade Unions) announced, although figures from the authorities were not immediately available. Last year, the union counted 210,000 demonstrators in France (including 50,000 in Paris) and the authorities counted 121,000.

"This day of protests is a great success. We have recorded 270 demonstrations across France, and at this stage we have counted 250,000 demonstrators, so the total number will be higher," said the union's head, Sophie Binet, on LCI.

Asked on this channel whether the socialists were not welcome in the procession, the general secretary of the CGT, Sophie Binet, replied that "it is violence that is not welcome in these processions."