In Paris, Lyon, Nantes and Rennes, left-wing activists demonstrated against the results of the second round of the presidential elections in France. A crowd, made up mostly of young people, gathered in the central area of Châtelet. There were riots with the police, and social media posts show that the police fired tear gas at the demonstrators.
Several hundred demonstrators gathered at the Place de la République in Paris to ensure that Emmanuel Macron’s next term in office begins with protests linked to the “Nuit Debout” demonstration. There were also riots in the Châtelet area.
– It doesn’t matter what social movement you come from; whether you are an antifa, a yellow vest, a feminist or an environmentalist, no matter what ideology (…), we need to mobilize France. Macron must know that we are ready! shouted one of the protest leaders wearing a Paris Antifa jacket.
Riots in the center of Rennes
Incidents also took place in the center of Rennes, where several hundred people demonstrated against the results of the second round of the presidential election, violating a ban on demonstrations imposed by the local prefecture. Security forces fired tear gas near a canal that crosses the city, where hundreds of demonstrators had gathered.
In Nantes, in the early evening, a demonstration of between 400 and 500 people marched through the streets of the city center with a banner reading “A revolution is needed.” There were also riots with the police in Lyon, where demonstrators attacked a police station.
Macron dominated Le Pen
According to exit poll research, incumbent French President Emmanuel Macron won the second round of the presidential election, defeating the leader of the National Union party, Marine Le Pen. Poll results released just after the polls closed show that Macron won about 58% of the vote. 42% voted for Marine Le Pen.
Voter turnout in today’s voting was approximately 72%. This is the second worst result in the history of direct presidential elections in France. Only in 1969 was the turnout lower.