French protesters decry far-right shift as snap election looms

People across France are protesting amid mounting concerns that far-right leader Marine Le Pen and her allies could gain a parliamentary majority in upcoming legislative elections. Authorities said they expected up to 350,000 people to participate in the protests from Paris to Lyon to Marseille.

The facts

• French President Emmanuel Macron, a centrist, called snap legislative elections last week after a defeat in European Parliament elections. Macron’s decision is an apparent bet that voters won’t dare bring the far-right to power in a more consequential French election, a move analysts say is risky given opinion polling.
• Anti-racism groups and left-wing political parties organized more than 150 rallies across France to protest the far-right National Rally guided by Le Pen.
• The National Rally won about 31 percent of the vote in the European elections, more than double the showing for Macron’s allies.
• The first round of voting is set for June 30, and a second round is scheduled for July 7, less than three weeks before the Opening Ceremonies of the Paris Olympics.

Saturday’s protests

In a show of force against the far right, protesters in Paris set a small fire as they were met by police in riot gear. In Marseille, they blocked roads and rail tracks. In Nantes, western France, they wore masks and goggles amid police tear gas. Across the country, they held signs characterizing Le Pen and her party as dangerous.