France in Turmoil Amid Protests

Amin Ibn Muzaffar, Bengal Darpan: France is in turmoil due to widespread protests. People have set buses on fire. The government has deployed 80,000 police officers across the country to control the unrest. The protests are being led by trade unions and the far-left party “La France Insoumise” (LFI), which mainstream media often describes as extremist. Hundreds of protesters have been arrested, but the demonstrations continue.Interior Minister Bruno Retayo has claimed that far-left activists deliberately created a situation of “rebellion” and are spreading incitement online. Left-wing leaders are supporting the protesting public.This is not entirely false. On the protest-filled streets, LFI leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon, whom the media calls “far-left,” is visible among the crowd. Protesters are waving Palestinian flags. Notably, a few days ago, LFI MEP Rima Hassan accompanied Greta Thunberg on a flotilla heading to Gaza.French President Emmanuel Macron has long faced public anger over his austerity and spending-cut policies.