French women’s rights supporters march against far right ahead of snap polls

FRANCE 24

23 June 2024 at 11:06 am·1-min read

Thousands of people on Sunday rallied in Paris and other cities across France to denounce the far-right National Rally party’s “false feminism” and the “real danger” it poses to women’s rights. The demonstrations came exactly a week before France’s snap parliamentary elections, with polls showing the National Rally and its allies leading the first round of the vote.

The demonstrations, organised by French women’s associations, NGOs and trade unions, came amid fears of a rollback of women’s rights – particularly reproductive rights – if the National Rally triumphs in the 2024 legislative elections.

In the latest poll published Sunday, the Ipsos survey showed the National Rally and its allies leading with 35.5% of the vote. The left-wing New Popular Front (NPF) alliance came second with 29.5% of the vote.

Protesters wearing shades of pink and violet marched from the Place de la République square in central Paris to Place de la Nation in the east, bearing signs with messages such as "Push back the far right, not our rights".

Reporting from Place de la République, FRANCE 24’s Vedika Bahl said the atmosphere at the demonstration was lively and defiant.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP and Reuters)

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