Thousands march in France in pre-election protest against far right

FILE PHOTO: People gather to protest against the French far-right National Rally (Rassemblement National - RN) party at Place de la Republique in Paris, after French far-right win in European Parliament vote and the announcement of early legislative elections in France, June 10, 2024. REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq/File Photo

PARIS (Reuters) -Thousands marched in Paris and cities across France on Saturday to protest against the far-right National Rally (RN) ahead of upcoming elections to the French parliament.

Following the RN's surge in last Sunday's European elections, police said 350,000 people were expected to march and 21,000 officers had been mobilised after labour unions, student groups and rights groups called for rallies to oppose the anti-immigration, eurosceptic party.