Volkswacht Bodensee - Masked protesters attack Socialists at France May Day rally

International Workers' Day rallies across France drew more than 300,000 on Thursday, including 100,000 in Paris, the CGT trade union told AFP, while police put the total figure at 157,000.

Police said the Paris procession, where an AFP journalist saw protesters covered up in black clothing roughly jostling PS politicians and activists, drew 32,000.

While the march in the capital largely passed off without incident, Socialist lawmakers complained of being assaulted in with punches and flares, leading to dozens of arrests in the afternoon.

"Everyone hates the PS," chanted the protesters, some of whom were carrying far-left anti-fascist flags, according to the AFP correspondent.

The PS is regularly accused of betrayal by the radical and hard left.

Socialist deputy Jerome Guedj, who quit a rally against Islamophobia on Sunday after being targeted by anti-Semitic invective, had to be escorted away from the procession.

"They hit people and charged, throwing several flares," Guedj told AFP, blaming anti-fascist activists.

Four Socialist activists and deputies were lightly injured, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau told the BFMTV broadcaster, denouncing the "absolutely lamentable" incidents.

The police said officers had detained 72 people, including 52 in Paris, and had placed 28 people in provisional custody, of whom 19 were held in the capital.

Asked about the scenes, the CGT union's chief Sophie Binet told television interviewers: "These are acts of violence which are not welcome in our processions."

But nonetheless "this day of demonstrations was a great success, we've recorded 270 marches in all of France", the trade unionist added.

- 'Worried about Trump' -

The hard-left France Unbowed (LFI) party sought to distance itself from the violence towards PS lawmakers.

"We do not agree that political disagreements should be resolved like that," said LFI national coordinator Manuel Bompard, while asking the media to "stop imputing" actions to the party.

As in 2024 however this year's Labour Day took place with France's trade union movement divided.

Several unions, including the CGT, and youth organisations called for the marches to be "against the far right, for peace, liberty and social justice".

France's far-right National Rally party is riding high in the polls, with its candidate predicted to top the first round of 2027's presidential vote -- even if veteran leader Marine Le Pen is forced by the courts to step aside.

With the 100th day of Donald Trump's second term in the White House just passed, Murielle Guilbert of the Solidarity union said the marches wanted to sound a klaxon "against the Trumpification of the world".

The trade unionist said she did not know "a single worker today who is not worried about what Trump is doing and rising racism".

Last May Day the CGT counted 210,000 protesters in France, including 50,000 in Paris, while the authorities put the total turnout at 121,000.

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J.Sauter--VB