Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of France in traditional May Day rallies marked by calls for an end to President François Hollande’s austerity policies, which many blamed for record numbers of jobless, reports The Independent.
But in contrast to previous years, the main unions are divided over strategy – each organising separate anti-austerity marches in Paris and other cities.
The Communist-led CGT accuses the Socialist-dominated CFDT of selling out to business leaders by backing a reform bill that provides greater flexibility to management.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon, a far-left politician who broke with the Socialist party and who held a separate rally in the French capital, condemned Mr Hollande for “dividing the unions, and the left. What a success!”.
France’s 12.1 per cent unemployment rate is the highest in the eurozone – a total of 3.2 million French workers without jobs.
Opinion polls show that the extremist National Front, whose leader, Marine Le Pen, addressed supporters in Paris, is benefiting from the disaffection of voters who reject the proposed solutions of the mainstream political parties.
Read more of this report from The Independent.