Demonstrations against the far-right party "National Assembly" were organized today in Paris and other French cities against the background of the upcoming parliamentary elections, reported Reuters, quoted by BTA.
After the rise of the "National Assembly" of last Saturday's European elections, police said 350,000 people were expected to demonstrate and 21,000 police had been mobilized after unions, student and rights groups called for marches against the anti-immigrant and Eurosceptic party.
At least 150 events are expected in Marseille, Toulouse, Lyon, Lille and other cities in the country.
In Paris, where around 100,000 people are believed to have attended the demonstration, the event began at 12pm local time from the Place de la République.
"We are participating in the demonstration because we are extremely worried that (National Assembly leader) Jordan Bardela could become the next prime minister... we want to prevent this disaster," said the far-left leader of the French Union of Workers Sophie Binet.
A 22-year-old student who attended the demonstration in Paris said it was her first participation in a protest. She said she was "disturbed because people believe the lies of this party, which has an openly racist legacy", referring to the National Front, the predecessor party of the National Assembly, led by Jean-Marie Le Pen. He received punishments for statements considered anti-Semitic and xenophobic.
The student said she wants to "fight to preserve the country of human rights, freedom and tolerance".