LE PEN, PANIQUE! Riots erupt in France over French election results as far-right firebrand Marine Le
Author: Ellie Cambridge
Original article:
[France] PROTESTERS furious at Marine Le Pen’s progress towards the French presidency clashed with cops as they were peppered with tear gas.
This evening the far-right hopeful moved closer to the top job as projected results saw her second in the runnings – leading angry demonstrators to pour onto Paris’ streets as their Prime Minister urged voters to back her rival.
Chaotic scenes saw groups of angry young people going up against police carrying shields and wearing helmets after earlier unrest ahead of the crunch election.
The youths, from anarchists and “anti-fascist” groups, gathered on the Place de la Bastille in eastern Paris after the first-round result came through.
As they moved through the streets scores of regimented officers attempted to calm the palpable fury as shop windows were kicked and small fires left on the roads.
Cops peppered the crowds with tear gas as the scenes became rowdier and riot police surrounded the youths.
Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve has called for the defeat of Le Pen’s National Front party, in comments just after polling agencies projected Le Pen and Emmanuel Macron advancing to the May 7 presidential runoff.
Protesters have previously greeted several of Le Pen’s campaign events, angry at her anti-immigration policies and her party, which she has sought to detoxify after a past tainted by racism and anti-Semitism.
Yesterday police in Paris also used gas after a planned march is said to have turned ugly a day ahead of the elections for France.
Masked protesters threw flares, stones and bottles at officers who are heavily present on the streets of Paris after a gunman killed a policeman and injured two others on Thursday.
A mob of 200 people were said to have hijacked a peacefully rally organised by activists who had gathered at the Place de la Republique before marching.
People dressed in black got amongst the demo and launched the assault on police at the Place de la Bastille.
Elsewhere in the city, more than 100 wives and partners of police protested against attacks on officers following Thursday’s attack.
And earlier in the week Le Pen was attacked on stage by a topless woman with a bunch of flowers during a campaign rally.
Armed security officers tackled the protester to the ground before dragging her away.
And a topless female protester later shouted out from the middle of the concert hall in an apparent protest against the candidate.
