French election rallies on May Day bring insults, unrest
PARIS — Far-right leader Marine Le Pen and centrist Emmanuel Macron hunted working class votes Monday, entering the final week of an increasingly nasty campaign for president. Thousands across France celebrated May Day by showing their top concerns are jobs and the kind of country the next leader will give them.
Amid the holiday marches, masked demonstrators threw firebombs at police in Paris before being dispersed by tear gas. Four officers were injured, with one seriously burned in the face, Interior Minister Matthias Fekl said.
While violence from fringe groups is a standard presence in French demonstrations, at least some of those who mixed in the union-organized march came with an angry message against both candidates.
“Not one or the other; instead it’s the people’s self-defence” read one sign.