70 people were arrested yesterday during a demonstration against President Francois Hollande's celebration of Armistice Day at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Paris.
In an unprecedented display of intolerance, far right wing activists first picketed the celebration marking Armistice Day and then loudly booed the President as he was officiating the ceremony and laying wreaths at the tomb.
To screams of "socialist dictator" and other like epithets, far right wing activists, not content with disrupting the hallowed ceremony, proceeded to then scuffle with security forces in full view of the cameras and attendees.
What the far right wingers are protesting is not Hollande's participation at the ceremony, but rather his 'liberal' agenda, which includes same sex marriage rights and other legislation that the far right groups disagree with.
Many people are appalled at the protesters' desecration of the ceremony, which is one of the most important in the French calendar. Others feel it's fair game, and a healthy reiteration of freedom of expression.
What is causing the surge of right wing membership numbers, is the lukewarm approach Hollande has taken to some grievous economic problems, including new taxes that have caused much consternation and protest among some sections of the population. Some of the taxes were levied against farmers, who have been very hard hit this year, due to climate concerns and other market fluctuations.
In fact, Hollande's tenure has been so fraught, that most of the left leaning section of the French population did not even vote at the primaries, causing the left party to be ousted from the general elections due next year.
Source : France 24/11.12.13
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