Mass May Day actions were held in the cities of Europe
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Demonstrations and actions took place in many European cities on May 1. Europeans demand improvement of working conditions and reforms of the social system.
The most numerous May Day performances were in the cities of France. As before, the French oppose the unpopular pension reform prepared by the government. According to the reform, the retirement age in the country will be raised from 62 to 64 years. In Paris alone, the All-Union Confederation of Labor counted 550,000 protesters, the police say 230,000. Demonstrators lit smoke grenades, smashed windows and threw stones at the police. The police used batons and tear gas. Dozens of protesters across the country were detained.
Several thousand people went to the May Day demonstration in Berlin. They carried placards calling on the government to develop social policy. Traditionally, supporters of the left and anarchist movements gather in Berlin on May 1, and clashes with the police often occur. This year, the demonstration was relatively peaceful. Among the demonstrators were supporters of Palestinian independence who shouted anti-Israeli slogans. The “Jewish Forum” organization regarded them as a manifestation of anti-Semitism.
There were also marches in other German cities. Chancellor Olaf Scholz addressed the demonstrators in Koblenz. In his speech, he called for any kind of work to be considered, to improve qualifications, and emphasized the importance of immigration for the German labor market. In Stuttgart, according to the local police, riots broke out during the demonstration, the police used pepper spray and batons.
About 10 thousand people took part in mass actions in Switzerland – in Basel and Zurich. They demanded an increase in salaries and pensions. Demonstrators set fire to pyrotechnics. The police had to use tear gas and rubber bullets.
In Spain, the participants of the rallies demanded an increase in salaries, which do not have time to keep up with inflation. There were also proposals to switch to a four-day working week. A separate requirement was put forward by lawyers: according to Spanish law, a lawyer must be ready to provide services to clients 365 days a year, even during illness. Lawyers demanded a legislative reform that would allow them to have days off.
Mass actions on May 1 were also held in the cities of Italy, Greece, Turkey and other European countries.
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