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WORLD NEWS Friday 22 September 2017

Thousands in France march to protest Macron’s labor law

PARIS (AP) — Tens of by 16,000 people. Organiz-
thousands of protesters ers put the figure at 55,000.
marched in Paris and other That protest was largely
French cities against Presi- peaceful, but some local-
dent Emmanuel Macron’s ized, brief scuffles broke
contested labor law re- out between a few dozen
forms Thursday — a day violent protesters wearing
before he adopts them by black hoods and riot police
executive order. using tear gas.
The nationwide action, Demonstrators brandishing
backed by the powerful, posters reading “The state
hard-left CGT trade union, ruins the people” marched
saw protesters take to the past the posh La Rotonde
streets in the second round restaurant where Macron
of public opposition to the was branded arrogant for
long-touted changes that prematurely celebrating
will give more power to his victory in the first round
employers to hire and fire of the elections before he
workers. Macron says that’s had won the presidency.
needed to power the stag- The latest protests come
nant French economy and a week after hundreds
boost jobs. of thousands of protest-
In cities across the country, ers — 220,000 according Demonstrators march with union flags during a rally to protest President Emmanuel Macron’s new
demonstrators waved an- to police and half a million pro-business labor policies in Paris, France, Thursday, Sept. 21, 2017. President Emmanuel Ma-
ti-capitalist placards and according to the unions — cron’s presidency is facing its second big public test, as unions hold nationwide protests against
angry personal messages took to the streets in many changes to labor laws that they fear corrode hard-fought job security.
against Macron, whose French cities in the first ma- (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
popularity has recently tak- jor challenge to Macron’s with the labor reforms. parliament. Friday following a Cabinet
en a hit. fledgling presidency. Macron used a special pro- Opponents criticized the meeting.Left-wing leader
In Paris, huge crowds Macron is waving away cedure that enabled him method as a sign of author- Jean-Luc Melenchon has
turned out to a protest that the opposition and his gov- to pass the measures with- itarianism.He is due to sign called for more street pro-
police said was attended ernment is pressing ahead out a lengthy debate at a series of executive orders tests on Saturday.q

Le Pen’s deputy quits as tensions engulf French far right

By ELAINE GANLEY figure in the party after Le centrist Emmanuel Macron. from France’s top schools, Front is in the midst of a ma-
Associated Press Pen. He was a familiar face Philippot, 35, announced joined the National Front six jor makeover, to include
PARIS (AP) — The right- on French TV — where he his departure on a morning years ago and quickly rose changing the party’s name
hand man of French far- announced his exit. news program on France to the top echelons, irk- that dates from its found-
right leader Marine Le Pen Philippot played a key role 2 television after being ing some longtime officials ing in 1972 by Le Pen’s fa-
quit the National Front on in Le Pen’s effort to scrub demoted by his boss and wary of his left-leaning bent ther, Jean-Marie Le Pen.
Thursday, the culmination clean her party’s racist relieved of his responsi- and ideas, like returning to Philippot claimed that the
of a feud that erupted after and anti-Semitic image to bilities for party strategy the French franc currency, party’s “old demons” were
her bruising defeat in May’s make it more voter-friendly. and communications late that they feared distracted sneaking back into the par-
presidential election, lay- But he was also behind Le Wednesday.“I was told I’m from the party’s fundamen- ty, a reference to hard right
ing bare party divisions and Pen’s controversial propos- vice president of nothing tals: immigration and na- values.“I regret his (Philip-
risking more. al for France to leave the ... I don’t have the taste tional identity. But he and pot’s) departure,” Le Pen
Florian Philippot, who made eurozone. Some Philippot for ridicule. Of course, I’m Le Pen were inseparable said Thursday on the LCP
a meteoric rise to party vice critics believe the proposal leaving the National Front,” throughout the presiden- TV station. But she added
president and Le Pen confi- harmed her in the presiden- Philippot said. tial campaign.Philippot’s that “the Front will get over
dante, was the most visible tial vote, when she lost to Philippot, with degrees exit comes as the National it without difficulty.”q