After the re-election of French President Emmanuel Macron (44), there were riots in several French cities on Sunday evening.
In the city of Rennes, for example, barricades burn in the evening. The protests continued following dark. According to local journalists, police officers and protesters were playing a cat-and-mouse game.
National police intervened in Lyon
The prefecture of the western French city of Rennes originally banned a demonstration by radical left-wing groups planned for election night. The unregistered meeting from 8 p.m. is illegal, the prefecture said. The organizers of illegal gatherings were threatened with imprisonment for up to six months and a fine of 7,500 euros.
In Lyon, there were clashes between left-wing groups, “yellow vest” demonstrators and the police, as reported by broadcaster BFMTV. First, the demonstrators shot at the municipal police with firecrackers, as might also be seen on video images. Later, the National Police intervened to end the riots.
“You will not end your term”
Already on the evening of the first round of elections and on the following weekend there were serious riots with considerable damage to property and attacks on the police, it was said. According to the regional press, the protests were also directed once morest the right-wing populist presidential candidate Marine Le Pen. According to the first results, Le Pen clearly lost the elections.
In the university town of Rennes, left-wing groups have been making a name for themselves for years, including with protests once morest the extreme right.
A demonstration march has also set off in Nantes. Hundreds of people, some with torches, march through the city center. They shout: “Macron, we’ll get you. You will not end your term.” Local journalists are also watching what is happening.
Tear gas in Paris
In Paris, too, the police had to use tear gas, reports a local journalist. This was necessary to break up demonstrations that had formed following the election results were announced.
In the late evening, another protest march with thousands of participants formed in the French capital. The protest marched from the Place de la Republique. According to videos, there were also clashes with the police.
(zis/SDA)
