Topless feminists in France have taken to the streets to protest against a surge in support for right-wing parties in the country’s ongoing parliamentary elections.
The snap elections were called by President Emmanuel Macron after strong results for anti-woke and populist movements in the European Parliament elections at the start of June. An improved performance for Marine Le Pen’s National Rally echoed similar results for right-wing parties across the continent.
France holds two rounds of voting to elect its parliament, with the first taking place on Sunday, June 30. National Rally and its allies topped the polls once again securing 34% of the vote – more than 13 percentage points ahead of President Macron’s Ensemble coalition.
The right-wing parties have so far secured 38 seats, while socialist groups have won 32. Ensemble, on the contrary, has only secured two. Seats where a candidate failed to secure a convincing majority will be decided in the second round of voting on Sunday, July 7.
In Paris, feminists removed their tops and mopped the streets in a vocal protest in the country’s capital. With a bucket labeled “anti-racism remover”, the women mopped in front of the Eifel Tower while criticizing what they see as the “fascist” right-wing movement.
The effectiveness of the protest was disputed by American commenters, with some subjecting it to ridicule.
Others, however, preferred this style of protest over blocking roads or contradictory causes.
American social media users also drew comparisons with protests instigated by left-wing extremists in the United States.
