FRANCE: PARIS: NATIONAL FRONT LEADER LE PEN LEADS MAY DAY MARCH скачать в хорошем качестве

FRANCE: PARIS: NATIONAL FRONT LEADER LE PEN LEADS MAY DAY MARCH

(1 May 1998) French/Nat Thousands of National Front supporters, heartened by their party's advances in March regional elections, gathered in Paris on Friday. They heartily cheered French far-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen as he wrapped up his party's traditional May Day march with a rally in front of the ornate Opera Garnier. Calling the euro an invading currency, Le Pen on Friday lambasted the creators of Europe's monetary union and called globalization "the new slavery." French right-wingers made it clear on Friday that they want nothing to do with an integrated Europe and the single currency. These pledges were made at France's annual National Front demonstration which started off on Friday morning on the Rue de Rivoli in the centre of Paris. Police estimated that the crowd was 11-thousand but organisers put the figure at nearer 40-thousand. The National Front takes a staunchly anti-European Union stance blaming the Maastricht Treaty and Brussels for many of the nation's ills - especially its unemployment which currently runs at 12 per cent. The other leader of the National Front, Mr Bruno Megret reiterated the party line. SOUNDBITE: (French) "We represent all the French who refuse the loss of independence and sovereignty in our country, who oppose the Euro, Maastricht and Amsterdam." SUPER CAPTION: Bruno Megret, Vice-President National Front Marchers had earlier made their way down the rue de Rivoli, past the Louvre Museum, stopping at the gilded statue of Joan of Arc. The 15th century patriot credited with fighting English invaders has been taken as the National Front's patron saint. The anti-immigration party, often accused of racism and anti-Semitism, is opposed to further steps towards an eventual European monetary union. The party says it fears for the fate of the French identity. Le Pen made an analogy with British and German public opinion. SOUNDBITE: (French) "All the World knows that the majority of Germans, the British and the French are against the Euro and Euro fanaticism, and that's and that's why Euro fanatics refuse to have a referendum and they're imposing and killing the franc. The battle against the Euro and for the franc is a battle for France, her sovereignty her independence, her life, her people". SUPER CAPTION: Jean Marie Le Pen, Leader of the National Front Party In his speech, Le Pen called the euro "a currency of occupation." He also described conservative President Jacques Chirac as a traitor for accepting the euro and the U-S media for promoting globalization. The peaceful march drew supporters of all ages, from veterans donning medals to housewives and the young. Le Pen loudly proclaimed French nationalism. UPSOUND: (French) "Vive La France, Vive La Front national.' The National Front traditionally gets up to 15 percent of the vote in elections. France joined other European Union countries at a summit in Brussels on Friday where they are formally giving up their currencies and accepting the euro in January. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...