Two rooms, two atmospheres during the May 1st demonstration in Draguignan

The local CGT union wanted to make the May 1st demonstration a movement of peace, freedom, and solidarity in Draguignan. But that was without taking into account the New Popular Front, the Peasant Confederation, and the Insoumis, who simply went their separate ways.

Yet, all gathered in front of the roundabout of the Draguignan sub-prefecture at 10:30 a.m., the political demonstrators did not wait for the end of the speech by the general secretary of the local CGT union to march. They rushed onto Boulevard Clemenceau, banner in hand, while Gilles Piazzoli demanded, among other things, into the microphone: "Racism, anti-Semitism, Islamism... Everywhere the poison of division is progressing (...). We want to reduce working hours, we continue to demand the abolition of pension reform and capitalization. (...) We defend our pay-as-you-go system, it has been solid and united for years. It is solidarity that must be strengthened!"

"Draguignan the beautiful, Draguignan the rebel"

The left-wing parties had already formed a choir on Place Cisson when the procession, made up of around a hundred workers' defenders (1), reached the judicial court.

Once back on Boulevard Clemenceau, still no one at the back. The 200 or so members of the political coalition were slow to join the CGT, Solidaire, FSU, and UNSA. They finally left several dozen meters between them in front of the Esplanade Theater, while hitting out at Bruno Retailleau, Minister of the Interior. Two rooms, two atmospheres... "Draguignan the beautiful, Draguignan the rebel" (2) will never have lived up to its name so well as this Thursday morning.

1. According to law enforcement, about 300 protesters were split into two groups.

2. Gilles Piazzoli chants this phrase at every demonstration.