More than 50 French parliamentary candidates beaten up as key vote looms which could see the formation of France's first conservative government since World War II
More than 50 French parliamentary candidates and activists have been attacked in the run up to tomorrow's final round of voting in a high-stakes election.
French interior minister Gerald Darmanin said his ministry has registered 51 verbal and physical attacks against candidates, their deputies or supporters during campaigning for the parliamentary elections.
Several attacks were 'extremely serious', Mr Darmanin added. At least 30 suspects 'with extremely varied backgrounds' have been arrested, he said, adding that their victims were also from across the political spectrum.
'National Rally's candidates were violently attacked, as were Left-wing candidates,' Mr Darmanin said.
French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin speaking in Paris, France on July 5, 2024
Demonstrators gather in Place de la Republique, to protest against the rising conservative movement after the Rassemblement National's victory in the first round of early general elections in Paris, France
Tensions are high as Left-wing groups try to prevent the conservative National Rally from winning an absolute legislative majority, after French president Emmanuel Macron called the snap election.
The National Rally, under party president Jordan Bardella, secured the most votes in the first round of the legislative elections on June 30 but not enough to claim an overall victory that would allow the formation of France's first conservative government since World War II.
Darmanin said 30,000 police officers will be deployed on Sunday, including 5,000 in the Paris region, to ensure that the results of the election 'are respected whatever they may be.' He said gatherings outside of the National Assembly, the lower house of parliament, have been banned.
Protesters take part during the demonstration in Paris against conservatives following the results of the French legislative elections, which saw the Rassemblement National party win the first round
There has been a surge in voter support for the conservative National Rally.
Candidates have complained of both hate speech and physical violence during the campaign.
Macron called the surprise legislative election on June 9 after his alliance suffered a punishing defeat at the hands of the National Rally in French voting for the European Parliament, plunging the country into a sudden legislative campaign.
Violence erupted on the streets of Paris after the results were declared, as demonstrators smashed shop windows, set rubbish ablaze and launched flares.
Riot police clashed with protesters in the Place de la Republique, a focus for angry demonstrations against the rise of Le Pen's party National Rally (RN).
A protest against the French conservative Rassemblement National party
RN's result was unprecedented for a populist conservative party in France.
French protest against the conservative Rassemblement National
France faces an 'existential threat' from the Left-wing, who are dubbed 'agents of chaos'.
Mr Bardella has already pledged to focus on an an anti-immigrant agenda, cancelling the automatic right of anybody born in France to foreign parents to French citizenship.
He has also said he will crack down on duel-nationals holding high-security jobs in France, such as running nuclear power stations.
Street thugs hold a banner reading 'what we don't get through the ballot box, we'll get through the street'
Rioting engulfed the streets of Paris as thousands of enraged left-leaning voters set light to rubbish, smashed up shop windows and launched fireworks.
Barricades designed to keep crowds controlled were overturned as leftists poured into Place de la République.
Bins were uprooted, with their contents spread all over the tarmac and promptly set alight as protesters circled touting banners, flares and projectiles.
Firefighters were called in to douse the blazes set by protestors.
Hordes of riot cops were dispatched across the city, particularly in the French capital's Place de la République where the police clashed with flare-toting rioters into the early hours of the morning.
Thousands of supporters of the Leftist Popular Front (Front Populaire, left coalition) march in streets near Place de la Republique
Bins were overturned and set alight, spreading acrid smoke into the air
Firefighters douse a fire set by leftist rioters
Rioters release fireworks during a demonstration against the French conservatives in Paris
Anti-riot police officers push back protesters who had set piles of rubbish alight
Leftist rioters smashed up shop windows in their own city
Tear gas was deployed against rioters in Paris
Throngs of protestors climbed up the Place de la Republique in Paris
Demonstrators gather in Paris, at the Place de la Republique, to protest against the rising conservative movement in France
Tension rises as demonstrators gather in Place de la Republique, to protest against the rising conservative movement
A demonstrator on the Place de la Republique denounces the conservatives
Voters are disgruntled by inflation, low incomes, the cost of living, and Muslim immigration.
Ms Le Pen's party campaigned on a platform that promised to raise consumer spending power, slash Muslim immigration and take a tougher line on European Union rules.
Her National Rally party has unveiled a host of populist policies aimed at revitalising the French economy.
Bardella told voters that he would be the 'protector' of their rights and freedoms.
Bardella wants to reduce its contribution to the EU by 'two to three billion dollars'.
The left-wing New Popular Front - an alliance of socialists, greens, and communists is in favor of keeping up payments to the EU.
Supporters of Marine Le Pen and the conservative National Rally party celebrating
Supporters of the conservative National Rally applaud in Strasbourg, eastern France
Just 76 lawmakers were elected outright in the first round of voting.
The second round will see run-off votes take place in seats where there was no absolute majority, allowing the final shape of the National Assembly to form.
The fate of the remaining 501 seats will be determined in the second round by run-offs between two, three, or in some rare cases, four remaining candidates.
The France Unbowed (LFI) hard-left party failed to condemn Hamas after the October 7 attack on Israel.
La Rotonde restaurant - one of Macron's favourite Parisian establishments - burns after being attacked by protesters
Protestors light a fire with electric bikes in front of the Hotel de Ville during a demonstration
A police station on fire during a demonstration
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