France
”Yellow vest” protesters support revolutionary movement in Algeria
By our reporters, 19 March 2019
At protests coinciding with the end of Macron’s fraudulent “grand debate,” “yellow vests” supported the developing struggle by Algerian workers and youth.
Macron denounces growing wave of protests in France
By Alex Lantier, 18 March 2019
Hundreds of thousands of people took part in demonstrations in France this weekend: against Macron, the Algerian dictatorship, and climate change.
Millions of students and youth march against climate change
By Bryan Dyne, 16 March 2019
The internationally coordinated protests, the largest in sixteen years, were organized in response to the failure of world governments and the ruling class to do anything to halt global warming.
Youth at global climate protests speak out on capitalism, socialism and scientific planning
By our reporters, 16 March 2019
Reporting teams from the World Socialist Web Site interviewed students who protested in countries around the world for action on climate change.
Grenoble, France: Thousands march for teenagers killed in police chase
By Will Morrow, 8 March 2019
From the morning after the tragedy, the families of Adam and Fatih have been the subject of a campaign of vilification by the media and the police.
Macron publishes platform for European elections calling for EU police state
By Alex Lantier, 6 March 2019
Abandoning the threadbare pretense that he is advocating a liberal development policy, Macron hails the EU as a potential global military-police power.
Algerian workers in France speak out against Bouteflika regime
By V. Gnana and Alex Lantier, 6 March 2019
The anger that is erupting in mass protests against the Bouteflika regime in Algeria has provoked a wave of support in France.
Germany: Socialist Equality Party submits candidates for the European elections
By our reporters, 6 March 2019
On Monday, the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (Socialist Equality Party, SGP) submitted the final signatures for its participation in the European elections.
Sixteenth week of protests: French “yellow vests” support strikes in North Africa
By Anthony Torres and Kumaran Ira, 4 March 2019
The “yellow vests” again took to the streets to demonstrate against French President Emmanuel Macron as protests mount against Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika.
France’s New Anti-capitalist Party sabotages fight against Ford Blanquefort plant closure
By Will Morrow, 2 March 2019
Leading NPA member Philip Poutou, a Ford employee and union official at Blanquefort, is seeking to prevent any fight by workers against the closure.
France’s ruling parties launch anti-Muslim campaign against sports veil
By Will Morrow, 28 February 2019
Political parties that have been denouncing left-wing opposition to social inequality as anti-Semitic are engaged in a filthy campaign of anti-Muslim propaganda.
French-Italian proxy war in Libya
By Marianne Arens, 26 February 2019
There are concrete material interests behind the sharp tensions between France and Italy, which in February led to France recalling its ambassador in Rome.
Macron threatens to criminalize opposition to Zionism in France
By Will Morrow, 22 February 2019
The French president is stepping up police-state policies, highlighted by the violent crackdown on “yellow vest” protesters.
French ruling elite attacks “yellow vests” while claiming to fight anti-Semitism
By Alex Lantier, 21 February 2019
The record of the PS and of President Emmanuel Macron’s Republic on the March (LRM) party exposes their pretenses to oppose anti-Semitism as a political fraud.
French media slanders “yellow vests” and Muslims as anti-Semites
By Will Morrow and Alex Lantier, 19 February 2019
France’s ruling elite is unleashing a provocative media campaign over a verbal confrontation between protesters and right-wing commentator Alain Finkielkraut.
French “yellow vests” hold 13th protest against social inequality, police brutality
By Anthony Torres, 11 February 2019
After the National Assembly voted a reactionary “anti-hooligan law” allowing police to ban protests without court rulings, a 13th “yellow vest” protest went ahead amid tensions with police.
The CGT’s “national strike”: French unions seek to strangle the “yellow vest” protests
By our reporters, 9 February 2019
For the unions, the day of action was an opportunity for its base of officials and bureaucrats to meet with “yellow vest” protesters and seek to gain control of their movement.
After US withdrawal from INF nuclear treaty with Russia
France conducts dry-run simulation of nuclear weapon strike
By Will Morrow, 8 February 2019
The operation lasted 11 hours and included “all phases” of what was referred to as a “nuclear dissuasion mission,” except for the detonation of an actual nuclear warhead.
France recalls its ambassador to Italy
By Alex Lantier, 8 February 2019
The decision to recall the French ambassador to Italy points to an accelerating collapse of relations between the major imperialist powers of Europe.
French National Assembly passes police state “anti-riot” law targeting protests
By Will Morrow, 7 February 2019
Introduced in response to the “yellow vest” protests, the law marks a significant step in the transformation of France into a police state.
Paris steps up calls for coup in Venezuela
By Alex Lantier, 6 February 2019
Amid growing repression of “yellow vest” protests, it is critical for workers in France and across Europe to oppose attempts to impose a far-right regime in Venezuela.
“Yellow vest” assemblies meet in Commercy
The pseudo-left parties seek to intervene in France’s “yellow vest” movement
By V. Gnana and Alex Lantier, 5 February 2019
On January 26, the Assembly of “yellow vest” assemblies was held, after two previous meetings of the Popular Assembly at Commercy since the “yellow vest” movement began.
Twelfth “yellow vest” protest marches against police repression in France
By Anthony Torres, 4 February 2019
As unions prepare to call a token one-day strike tomorrow, masses of “yellow vest” protesters oppose the unions’ attempts to take over and strangle their movement.
French President Macron visits the hangman of Cairo
By Will Morrow and Alex Lantier, 30 January 2019
Macron’s visit to Egyptian dictator Abdel Fattah el-Sisi is a warning that his government intends to drastically step up repression of the “yellow vests” and broader popular opposition.
French “yellow vests” applaud workers’ struggles against social inequality
By Anthony Torres, 29 January 2019
Some 69,000 people participated in the eleventh weekly protest of “yellow vests” in France, according to the Interior Ministry.
090 Yellow vests
28 January 2019
Oppose French unions’ attempts to strangle the “yellow vest” protests!
By Anthony Torres and Alex Lantier, 26 January 2019
The Pabloite New Anticapitalist Party’s calls for the unions to take over the “yellow vest” protests amounts to an attempt to strangle growing opposition among workers.
Germany, France step up military, police alliance with Aachen treaty
By Alex Lantier, 23 January 2019
The treaty aims to build a German-French axis as the centre of a European Union rivaling America militarily and planning the repression of workers across Europe.
French “yellow vests” step up protests as Macron’s “national debate” begins
By Anthony Torres, 22 January 2019
Rejecting Macron’s offer of a “great national debate” with protesters this week, the “yellow vests” were mobilized in large numbers for this Saturday’s protests.
Macron offers “great national debate” as trap for French yellow vest protesters
By Anthony Torres, 21 January 2019
In a letter to the French people, Macron offered a choice of which social programs to cut.
070 Macron and yellow vests
19 January 2019
France’s Lutte ouvrière group defends unions against “yellow vest” protests
By Anthony Torres, 18 January 2019
The “yellow vest” movement has unmasked the class gulf separating the workers from the union bureaucracies and organizations such as the pseudo-left Lutte ouvrière .
French worker sentenced to six months’ jail over Facebook call for demonstrations
By Will Morrow, 16 January 2019
The French government has intensified police-state repression aimed at crushing “yellow vest” protests against social inequality.
France’s mass “yellow vest” protests continue to grow in 2019
By Alex Lantier, 14 January 2019
Demonstrations this Saturday grew significantly compared with last week, amid rising anger at French President Emmanuel Macron.
220 State finances French unions
14 January 2019
Macron launches fraudulent “national debate” on “yellow vest” protests
By Alex Lantier, 11 January 2019
The debate is an attempt to strangle mounting opposition while continuing reactionary policies of austerity and militarism under cover of a few empty phrases.
French Prime Minister proposes government registry of demonstrators
By Alex Lantier, 8 January 2019
In face of growing workers’ anger, the Macron government has adopted neo-fascist proposals for domestic repression.
Growing “yellow vest” protests defy French police repression
By Anthony Torres, 7 January 2019
The protest Saturday, the first day of action of French “yellow vest” protesters in 2019, mobilized substantially larger forces than the last protests of 2018.
French police arrest “yellow vest” spokesman Eric Drouet
By Anthony Torres, 4 January 2019
The ruling elite is sending a signal that it aims to criminalize and persecute all expressions of genuine political opposition.
Yellow vest protesters rally across France on New Year’s Eve
By our reporters, 3 January 2019
To bring in the New Year, yellow vest protesters across France rallied to show their opposition to Macron and their determination to continue the movement.
French “yellow vest” protests expose anti-worker role of New Anticapitalist Party
By Alex Lantier, 31 December 2018
The NPA reacted to the protests by first denouncing them as fascist and then demanding that the trade union bureaucracy assert control over the movement and restore order.
France’s “yellow vest” protests and the fraud of Mélenchon’s “citizens revolution”
By Alex Lantier, 29 December 2018
With his calls for “yellow vest” protesters to carry out a “citizens revolution,” Mélenchon is trying to confuse, strangle and shut down the movement.
European powers condemn Trump’s withdrawal from Syria
By Johannes Stern, 24 December 2018
Trump’s planned withdrawal of US troops from Syria and the subsequent resignation of defence secretary James Mattis have provoked a fierce response from European leaders.
French “yellow vest” protesters mount pre-Christmas protest against Macron
By Alex Lantier, 24 December 2018
On Saturday, tens of thousands of “yellow vests” demonstrated in cities and on highways across France, amid a growing strike wave in nearby Spain and Portugal.
Commercy “yellow vest” protesters hold second Popular Assembly
By our reporter, 24 December 2018
Over 100 workers, contractors, small businesspeople and unemployed gathered to discuss perspectives for a struggle against French President Emmanuel Macron.
050 France yellow vests update
21 December 2018
French Romantic painter Eugène Delacroix at the Metropolitan Museum in New York
By Clare Hurley, 20 December 2018
The powerful exhibition is the first major survey of the artist’s work in half a century. It brings together 150 paintings, drawings, prints and manuscripts that have rarely been shown together.
20 December 2018
Parti de l’égalité socialiste holds Paris meeting on “yellow vest” protests
By our reporter, 18 December 2018
Several dozen people attended the meeting, including several “yellow vest” protesters as well as members of the Tamil community in Paris.
Fifth French “yellow vest” protest opposes Macron government
By Alex Lantier, 17 December 2018
The media and official parties are pressing the “yellow vests” to accept the legalizing of citizen-initiated referendums as a concession that would justify ending the protests.
French state prepares crackdown for fifth Saturday of “yellow vest” protests
By Will Morrow, 15 December 2018
The Paris police prefect announced that the response would be “about the same” as last Saturday, which saw mass arrests of over 1,700 people.
Rohini Hensman’s Indefensible: The ISO discovers its muse—the CIA—Part 1
By Alex Lantier, 14 December 2018
Hensman’s arguments tend inescapably in one direction: That US wars have been the main liberating force over the last quarter century.
Ex-1968 student leader Cohn-Bendit denounces French “yellow vest” protests
By Alex Lantier, 14 December 2018
The eruption of a political movement in the working class has provoked a rabidly hostile reaction from the middle-class anti-Marxist “left” milieu.
Mass shooting in Strasbourg kills 3, wounds 12 before “yellow vest” protest
By Alex Lantier, 13 December 2018
The French ruling elite is already seizing upon the attack to trample democratic rights with demands that “yellow vest” protesters abandon their protests against Macron.
Democrats downplay Google censorship at congressional hearing
By Andre Damon, 13 December 2018
The principal targets of censorship by the Internet companies, working with the US intelligence agencies, are left-wing, anti-war and socialist political viewpoints.
German daily accuses Macron of surrender to “yellow mob”
By Peter Schwarz, 13 December 2018
The German business press reacted indignantly to French President Macron’s attempt to appease the “yellow vest” protest movement with social concessions.
High school students protest in Paris against French government’s education reforms
By Alex Lantier, 12 December 2018
The students are opposing the government’s right-wing reforms and re-imposition of compulsory military service, while showing their support for the “yellow vests.”
Egypt bans yellow vest sales as French protesters reject Macron’s concessions
By Alex Lantier, 11 December 2018
Governments worldwide are panicking in the face of the growing militancy and political radicalization of the international working class.
UK workers, young people defend Yellow Vest protests in France: “I only wish that we could do it here as well!”
By our reporters, 11 December 2018
WSWS reporters spoke to workers and youth in Britain who support the Yellow Vest protests in France.
Which way forward for France’s “yellow vest” protests?
By Alex Lantier, 10 December 2018
The critical question is the independent organization of the working class, in France and internationally, in the preparation of a European general strike.
The “yellow vests”: A movement of workers against social inequality
By our reporters, 10 December 2018
In this video, workers participating in France’s “yellow vests” demonstrations explain their demands and appeal for international support.
No to the persecution of Eric Drouet
By Kumaran Ira, 10 December 2018
Macron tries to intimidate the “yellow vests” by persecuting one of the founders of the movement.
German workers express solidarity with “yellow vest” protests in France
By our reporters, 10 December 2018
German workers who spoke with Socialist Equality Party (SGP) candidates, expressed sympathy with the mass protests of the “yellow vests” in France. Many share the same grievances and confront the same inequities.
France’s “yellow vest” protesters brave repression and mass arrests
By Alex Lantier and Kumaran Ira, 9 December 2018
The French president’s attempts to staunch the protests through a combination of phony concessions and state violence have clearly failed.
French government threatens bloody crackdown on “yellow vest” protest
By Alex Lantier and Francis Dubois, 8 December 2018
Amid rising popular support for demonstrations against austerity and inequality, French officials are warning they will stop at nothing to halt the protests.
The demonstrations in France and the global class struggle
By Alex Lantier, 7 December 2018
As they face Macron’s brutal crackdown, workers and students in France fighting austerity and inequality must turn to the international working class.
German Left Party denounces “Yellow Vest” protests
By Peter Schwarz, 7 December 2018
The Left Party is instinctively hostile to any social movement that is not controlled and held in check by the trade unions.
“We stand with you because all of us are in the same fight”
US autoworkers express class solidarity with French workers
By Jerry White, 6 December 2018
The determination of the “yellow vest” protesters in the face of state repression by the French government has inspired workers in the United States and around the world.
France's “yellow vest” protests expose Jean-Luc Mélenchon's pro-capitalist populism
By Alex Lantier, 6 December 2018
Jean-Luc Mélenchon's attack on socialism and his proclamation of the political irrelevance of the working class reflect his hostility to growing social anger among workers.
Mobilize the working class against Macron!
By Alex Lantier, 5 December 2018
The critical task facing protests against austerity and inequality in France is to expand the struggle more broadly into the French and international working class.
French protests spark media demands for Facebook censorship
By Andre Damon, 5 December 2018
Sections of the press in France and the United States have seized upon the “yellow vest” demonstrations to directly demand the suppression of popular opposition on social media.
High school students and ambulance drivers join ‘Yellow Vest’ protests in France
By Alex Lantier, 4 December 2018
With a fourth consecutive Saturday of mass demonstrations against French President Emmanuel Macron’s regressive taxes planned this weekend, tens of thousands of high school students throughout France have staged demonstrations at their schools.
The mass protests in France: A new stage in the international class struggle
By The World Socialist Web Site Editorial Board, 3 December 2018
This weekend’s anti-austerity demonstrations in France have shown the working class to be not just an oppressed class, but a revolutionary class.
Third “yellow vest” protest in France defies government crackdown
By Anthony Torres, 3 December 2018
As protests spread across Europe, after the most violent police crackdown in downtown Paris in a half century, a historic political crisis is erupting.
Strikes and demonstrations shake France
By Alex Lantier, 1 December 2018
The struggles pose the necessity of organizing workers and youth independently of the unions and the parties defending Macron.
Left Party publications denounce protest movement in France
By Johannes Stern, 30 November 2018
In two separate articles, Neues Deutschland spreads the lies of the French government and the police that violence in Paris stems from the “Yellow Vest” demonstrators.
Rejecting Macron’s speech, fuel tax protesters call new demonstrations in France
By Alex Lantier, 28 November 2018
French President Macron’s decision to give a speech addressing the protesters only made clear that he firmly intends to pursue his right-wing policies and has nothing to offer.
Slanders depicting “Yellow Vest” protesters as violent neo-fascists collapse
By our reporter, 28 November 2018
None of those arrested at the demonstrations in Paris were wanted on charges associated with either far-right or anarchist groups.
No to Macron’s maneuvers to strangle the Yellow Vest protests in France
By Alex Lantier, 27 November 2018
The talks Macron is slated to offer today to the Yellow Vest protesters are a trap for a movement that requires a turn to the working class and a revolutionary strategy.
French riot police assault mass protests in Paris
By Alex Lantier, 26 November 2018
The French Interior Ministry claimed that 106,000 people participated in over a thousand protests across France, including 8,000 demonstrators on the Champs-Elysées in Paris.
French president bans fuel tax protest in Paris as strikes expand
By Alex Lantier, 24 November 2018
As the government of French President Emanuel Macron moved to ban protests against its fuel tax increase, strikes and demonstrations in support of the protest movement spread across France yesterday.
Black Friday strikes hit Amazon in Europe
By our reporters, 24 November 2018
Amazon workers launched strikes and protests in Germany, Spain, Italy, Poland, France and the UK.
France sends military against protesters on Réunion Island
By Anthony Torres, 23 November 2018
Announcing the deployment of the military to Réunion, Macron is escalating the repression carried out by France’s police state against workers and youth.
French government spokesman explains Macron’s policies by quoting anti-Semite Maurras
By Francois Dubois, 23 November 2018
The most likely explanation for Griveaux’s statement is that Maurras, the head of Action Francaise and supporter of the Nazis, is intensively read and discussed within the government.
No to the draft in France and Europe!
By Parti de l’égalité socialiste, 23 November 2018
Faced with plans to reintroduce military service across Europe, the decisive question is the construction of an anti-war movement in the international working class.
Amid mass protests, France announces return to universal military service
By Alex Lantier, 20 November 2018
After hundreds of thousands protested anti-worker tax hikes this weekend, the French government announced plans to begin drafting youth as early as next summer.
“Macron is the president of the rich”: “Yellow Vest” protesters speak out
By our reporters, 20 November 2018
Participants in the “Yellow Vest” protests across France, which continued yesterday in a number of regions, talked to the WSWS about why they are demonstrating.
France shaken by mass protests
By Alex Lantier, 19 November 2018
There were cries of “Macron resign” from protesters holding signs saying “No to the president of the rich.”
French riot police attack protests against deadly Marseille building collapse
By Anthony Torres, 17 November 2018
The clashes express the immense social anger over the deaths of eight people in the building collapse on the Rue d’Aubagne.
French “Yellow Vest” protesters prepare road blockades against fuel tax hike
By Anthony Torres, 16 November 2018
Fear is growing in official circles that tomorrow’s nationwide road blockades could develop into an explosion of mass social anger against French President Macron.
French teachers mobilize against Macron’s attacks on education
By Anthony Torres, 15 November 2018
Monday’s strike was the first day of action called by the education unions since 2011.
Thousands protest Trump’s visit to Paris for centenary of World War I armistice
By our reporters, 13 November 2018
During the US president’s visit on November 11, thousands of people came out on Republic Square to protest war and austerity.
Bitter US-European tensions mark centenary of World War I armistice in Paris
By Alex Lantier, 12 November 2018
Heads of state from 70 countries gathered in Paris to mark the centenary of the end of World War I under the shadow of rising conflicts between the great powers.
050 Anti-Trump demos in France
12 November 2018
French President Macron hails fascist dictator Philippe Pétain
By Alex Lantier, 10 November 2018
Macron’s attempt to rehabilitate Pétain is an unabashed appeal to the far right, which he is cultivating as a base of support amid rising opposition among workers.
220 Petain
9 November 2018
New Caledonia referendum rejects independence from France
By John Braddock, 6 November 2018
The vote against independence will do nothing to resolve the legacy of colonialism and deep social divisions in the French Pacific territory.
Inviting Trump to Paris, Macron evokes the specter of fascism and the 1930s
By Alex Lantier, 5 November 2018
Macron is inviting America’s far-right president while hypocritically criticizing European neo-fascism as a danger to the pursuit of European imperialist interests.
France to send aircraft carrier to South China Sea to threaten China
By Anthony Torres, 2 November 2018
Amid growing tensions between the major powers, France’s nuclear-armed aircraft carrier is set to travel next year to the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea.
French flooding deaths expose legacy of austerity
By Olivier Laurent, 25 October 2018
Fourteen people were killed and 75 injured in floods that ravaged the Aude region of southern France last week.
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