French election results trigger riots (VIDEOS)
Riots and looting broke out across France as left-wing supporters flooded the streets to celebrate the New Popular Front coalition's victory over the right-wing National Rally and President Emmanuel Macron’s centrists, after early results were released on Sunday night.
Over 30,000 riot police officers had been deployed across France, including 5,000 in Paris, anticipating unrest following the election showdown.
Shortly after preliminary results were announced, chaos broke out at a New Popular Front rally in downtown Paris, with Nantes, Lyon, Marseille, and Rennes soon joining in.
The crowd gathered at Republic Square, firing fireworks and chanting: “Young people, screw the National Front!”
La police est la cible de tirs de mortiers d’artifices en marge de la soirée de célébration de la victoire du #NouveauFrontPopulaire aux #ElectionsLegislatives2024 à #Paris. pic.twitter.com/lnb51LsjYl
— CLPRESS / Agence de presse (@CLPRESSFR) July 7, 2024
Police tried to disperse the crowd with tear gas as a hooded and masked mob hurled bottles, erected barricades, and set bikes on fire. At least one officer was reportedly injured by a Molotov cocktail.
This is how the far-left responded after WINNING the French parliamentary election. Supporters of the NFP left wing alliance are rioting in Paris, looting stores, smashing windows, setting fire to the streets and throwing Molotov cocktails at police. pic.twitter.com/ekSWqPfdQy
— Oli London (@OliLondonTV) July 7, 2024
In footage posted online, police are seen charging towards the center of the square.
A 1h du matin les affrontements se poursuivent à #Paris autour de la place de la République après les célébrations de la victoire du #NFP aux #ElectionsLegislatives2024. pic.twitter.com/JjbVzuy0Zj
— CLPRESS / Agence de presse (@CLPRESSFR) July 7, 2024
Multiple fire brigades were deployed.
🚨🇫🇷FAR-LEFT RIOTS IN PARIS AGAINThe far-left have begun “celebrating” in Paris by looting, burning and rioting in the streets.The markets will meltdown tomorrow, Macron will be eventually forced out for causing this mess and the public will swarm to Le Pen.This is all… pic.twitter.com/CL108tdpPQ
— Alex Armstrong (@alexharmstrong) July 7, 2024
Restaurants, banks, and other venues in Paris had attempted to secure their windows with wooden panels ahead of the second-round election, but the mob still reportedly looted several shops.
After the square was cleared by the police, piles of trash and broken windows remained.
French President Emmanuel Macron called a snap parliamentary election last month after the right-wing National Rally party (RN) performed strongly at the EU parliamentary vote, beating his Renaissance Party with twice as many votes.
Despite leading the first round of the election, securing 33% of the vote, the RN suffered a setback in Sunday's ballot, coming third with 143 seats (out of 577). The left-wing New Popular Front bloc emerged as the winner with 182 seats but no absolute majority. Macron’s bloc took second place with 168 seats.
