May 1: "We only talk about these incidents which say nothing about what the meaning of these demonstrations was", regrets Pierre Laurent

Personally, I wonder about the possible complicity of some of the leaders of these black blocs with the government, in order to discredit the movement, I think it is not totally excluded. In any case the police let it happen, when they were informed.

The national secretary of the PCF "absolutely condemned" the violence which broke out on the sidelines of the May Day demonstration in Paris.

The demonstrations of 1^er-May gathered more than 210.000 people in France according to the CGT. They were 143.500 according to the Ministry of the Interior. The Paris procession was however marked by violence with 200 arrests. Pierre Laurent, national secretary of the PCF said on Tuesday 1^er mai "absolutely condemn" this violence and regrets that the"we only talk about these incidents which say nothing about what was the meaning of these demonstrations of the 1^er-May". According to Pierre Laurent, this 1^er however, remains "a step" towards mobilizations "increasingly important in the month of May".

franceinfo: How do you feel after the demonstrators had to turn back after the incidents caused by radical activists?

Peter Lawrence: There have been incidents outside the procession, totally regrettable violent incidents. I absolutely condemn the violence that was committed and which lasted in my eyes, a little too long before the police intervened. Especially since the police were obviously warned of this possibility since they had communicated yesterday [Monday] on this issue. Of course, we can see what all this leads to. Instead of talking about the hundreds of thousands of demonstrators who were present in the streets of France today on 1^er-May, we only talk about these incidents which say nothing about what was the meaning of these demonstrations of the 1^er-may.

What is your reaction to the words of Marine Le Pen who denounces a "complicity of left power" against "far left militias"?

Marine Le Pen says absolutely anything in this statement. It's anything to hide this truth that violence has very often, in history, been the act of the extreme right. And the extreme right Marine Le Pen met in Nice are violent far-rights in their countries, racist far-rights, so no lesson against violence from Marine Le Pen, she had better shut up.

There were between 143.500 and 210.000 demonstrators in the streets of France, does this mean that the 1^er-may is still a symbol?

It's more than a symbol, it's a day that allows social demands to be expressed each time, in France and around the world. Obviously in the current period that our country is experiencing it takes on a particular meaning because there is a growing social boiling. I think this is a step and that we will move towards new days of increasingly important mobilizations in May. This month of May 2018 opens a month of May with many mobilization dates. I think there is a strong social protest that is settling against the political choices of Emmanuel Macron which is developing, taking root in very diverse sectors, in different categories of the population.

For several months now, the unions have been talking about a convergence of struggles, almost calling for it. Do you have the feeling that it is a reality today?

For my part, I have always insisted on the fact that first it was necessary to generalize these mobilizations in the different sectors. Because, before talking about convergence, these mobilizations must develop and develop on the subjects that worry the French.

source: France TV Info.fr