Paris: Thousands Protest Against Austerity

Tens of thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of Paris to demonstrate against austerity measures.

The demonstrations, which started at the Bastille, marked socialist President Francois Hollande's first year in office and accused him of turning his back on the left.

Police estimated around 30,000 demonstrators were on the streets of the French capital, while the communist-backed Left Front said 180,000 had gathered.

"Salaries are frozen. They continue to reduce hiring in the public sector," said Brigitte Blang, a 64-year-old teacher from eastern France.

"We're waiting for true leftist policies. There's money in the coffers."

The protests followed demonstrations on Wednesday by the far-Right

The protests follow another demonstration last Wednesday that brought hundreds of supporters of the far-right National Front to Parisian streets.

It comes as polls show Mr Hollande is now the most unpopular president in modern French history, a mantle he has taken on from his predecessor, Nicolas Sarkozy.

Mr Hollande took on the presidency last May, promising to spare France the austerity measures that are being imposed elsewhere in Europe.

The French government has largely avoided deep spending cuts, big tax hikes and wide-ranging reforms.

However, it has cut 10bn euros (£8.4bn) in spending and increasing taxes, largely on the rich, by 20bn euros.

Protesters claim Mr Hollande has turned his back on the Left

France's economy has continued to deteriorate, with growth stagnating and unemployment rising above 10%.

Jean-Luc Melenchon, the Left Front's candidate in last year's presidential elections, told the crowd: "We do not want the world of finance in power. We do not accept the politics of austerity."

Opponents of gay marriage also rallied in major cities including Paris in an attempt to force Mr Hollande to back down from signing a bill approved in parliament last month.

The bill, which is also facing a constitutional challenge, sparked months of demonstrations across the country, with some descending into violence.

It has been one of the most controversial reforms of Mr Hollande's first year in office, with right-wing opponents demanding the issue be put to a referendum.

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