Report on the 1st of May in France
We hereby share an unofficial translation of a report published by La Cause du Peuple.
The 1st of May of 2025, was a day of fruitful mobilization in France. Nearly 300,000 people took to the streets, responding the call of the unions, an increase compared to last year. Of course, this mobilization is lower than the explosive 1st of May of 2023, during the pension reform battle, which saw 2.3 million people protesting. However, we must look forward; this day prepares for the struggles to come, and each year, the revolutionary contingents gain strength and attract more interest. This evolution is a significant rebuke to those who only look at the number of demonstrators reported by major media outlets to judge the strength of the May 1 mobilization.
That said, this May 1 was marked by a confrontation in Paris between demonstrators and a delegation of Socialist Party (PS) deputies, which led to the “exfiltration” of the deputies from the protest and several arrests. This event is not trivial; as the political maneuvering of the PS continues ahead of their congress, everyone wants to use May 1 to prove they are true “defenders of workers.” All the officials who came to the aid of Jérôme Guedj and the PS, whether they are socialists, environmentalists, from the PCF, or LFI, formed an opportunistic cohort, each one whining in turn. In reality, while this expulsion of part of the PS is not a mass movement, it shows a growing disdain for political opportunism that is leading to a rupture. This is a good thing, as the weight of opportunism is part of the “colossal heap of garbage” we are sitting on, and it is something we need to sweep away.
Elsewhere, union mobilization was strong, as in Toulouse, where 10,000 people marched, mostly behind a CGT contingent where the youth made their voices heard. The union march had a genuine class content, reminding everyone that May 1 belongs to the working class and that it is a significant date that the bourgeoisie will never be able to take away. It is therefore not surprising that more than 10,000 people joined and participated at various levels in this march.
In the afternoon, a celebration organized by the CGT and the CPES in the Mirail neighborhood brought together 200 people around a barbecue, political activities, and a pétanque tournament. The CGT of Mirail reported: “A speech was delivered that recalled the history of 1st of May and the importance of mobilizing for this day. Our message is clear: for 139 years, 1st of May has been a day of preparation for struggle!” The participants also expressed their support for Alex, an activist facing charges for his support of Palestine.
In other departments, such as Limoges, where 2,000 people marched, several hundred participated in a revolutionary march that brought together unions, youth, and political organizations.
Like them, in several cities, the anti-imperialist message was raised by numerous marches. In Paris, Rennes, Strasbourg, Lille, and Lyon, revolutionary youth joined forces with anti-imperialist organizations, supporters of the Palestinian people, the student union FSE, Kanak activists, and the Turkish revolutionary organization Partizan. Together, these marches raised internationalist slogans, reminding everyone that 1st of May is a global day for a global class.
Rennes:
Paris:
Lille:
Strasbourg:
Lyon:
