Paris explodes into violence as election D-Day looms

PETROL bombs and stones were hurled at police by hooded agitators yesterday during a violent protest against the French presidential election.

Hundreds of demonstrators started rioting during what was meant to be a peaceful union march in Paris.

Police responded to the clashes with tear gas and truncheons. Six officers were injured in the May Day skirmishes.

The violence came during a tense day of campaigning that saw pro-EU candidate Mr Macron admit that if he does not overhaul the bloc then ‘Frexit’ would be inevitable.

He acknowledged that the tide of anti-EU feeling in France is too strong to ignore and that ‘the dysfunction of the EU is not sustainable’.

His words will be seen as a clear attempt to steal votes from his rival, Marine Le Pen, who wants to ditch the euro and scrap Europe’s open border system. Mr Macron added that not addressing the criticisms would either see France follow the UK out of Europe, or put it under the control of Miss Le Pen’s far-Right National Front.

He said: ‘I defended constantly during this election the European idea and European policies because I believe it’s extremely important for French people and for the place of our country.

‘But at the same time we have to face the situation, to listen to our people, and to listen to the fact that they are extremely angry today, impatient, and the dysfunction of the EU is not sustainable. So I do consider that my mandate, the day after, will be at the same time to reform in-depth the European Union and our European project.’

Admitting that allowing the EU to continue without change would be a mistake, he added: ‘I don’t want to do so ... because the day after, we will have a Frexit or we will have National Front again.’

One poll yesterday placed Mr Macron on 61 per cent, significantly ahead of Miss Le Pen who polled 39 per cent.