Riot police have battled hundreds of protesters in Paris at the end of a largely peaceful march by tens of thousands of people opposed to France’s new gay marriage law. Police arrested 96 people after scuffles at the protest in central Paris on Sunday once the bulk of protesters had gone home.
The clashes erupted after hardliners began to wield sticks and riot police filled the Invalides Esplanade with tear gas.
Youths shouted slogans against the left-wing government such as “Socialist dictatorship” and threw objects at journalists covering the event.
The law came into force more than a week ago, but organisers went ahead with the protest to show their continued opposition and voice their frustrations with President Francois Hollande, who had made legalising gay marriage one of his key pledges in last year’s election.
Large park grounds around Les Invalides monument were full of protesters waving pink and blue flags, while far-right activists hung a banner on the ruling Socialist Party headquarters urging Hollande to quit. The protests began as a grass roots campaign strongly backed by the Roman Catholic Church, but they have morphed into a wider movement with opposition politicians and far-right supporters airing their discontent at the socialist government. Although they have failed to block gay marriage, the protesters hope their renewed show of force will help stop or slow down further laws some Socialists want allowing assisted procreation and surrogate motherhood for gay couples. Jean-Francois Cope, leader of the opposition UMP party, marched in the demonstration and urged young protesters to join his party to keep up pressure on the left-wing government.
