On the eve of the first round of the presidential election, they march to urge the future President of the Republic to “acting against the climate and health crises”. Also among the demands, to act “against the rise of hate speech” and the “sexist and gender-based violence” and support Ukraine. This Saturday, several dozen “Marches for the future” and the climate took place in France. 83 events were organized at the call of more than 300 associations, collectives, unions or local movements.
According to one of the organizing associations, Alternatiba, the demonstrators were thus 35,000 in Paris (5,600 according to the prefecture), 3,000 in Lyon (1,600 people according to the prefecture), 2,000 in Bordeaux (900 according to the prefecture) and 1,500 in Toulouse (900 people according to the prefecture) and Montpellier. In Marseille, the Bouches-du-Rhône prefecture counted 450 participants. In Strasbourg, the prefecture counted 300.
“It’s an unprecedented gathering”rejoiced Lorette Philippot, spokesperson for Friends of the Earth, to AFP. “It is to show, at the end of this five-year term and at the start of the next one, that these problems have the same root. And if we are not allowed to speak about the candidates today, it is also an opportunity to talk about themes that were forgotten during the campaign”. Indeed, the law prohibits since midnight Friday evening any electoral propaganda.