An estimated quarter of a million people took to the streets across France today in the biggest series of protests yet against the presence of far-right leader Mr Jean-Marie Le Pen in the presidential election.
In town after town, the figures showed an apparent snowball effect, with the numbers of protesters in many places being multiplied by three in a 24-hour period.
Police were bracing for even bigger protests at the weekend, as well as what is expected to be a climactic moment on May 1st, Labour Day, when both unions and left-wing groups as well as Le Pen traditionally hold marches.
On Sunday Mr Le Pen, a 73-year-old firebrand running on an anti-immigration and anti-EU ticket, caused a major upset by qualifying for a May 5th run-off election against conservative President Jacques Chirac.
Socialist Prime Minister Mr Lionel Jospin was eliminated, leaving left-wing supporters with no choice but to vote for the 69-year-old President Chirac in order to block the National Front leader.
Shouting "Vote to stop Le Pen" and "We are all children of immigrants" and brandishing placards describing Mr Le Pen as a "fascist", today’s marchers brought traffic to a standstill in town centres, where many bystanders stopped to applaud their passage.
The size and momentum of the rallies have overwhelmed authorities, who are preparing emergency police deployments for even larger gatherings planned nationwide by unions, student groups, left-wing associations, human rights and anti-racism organisations who are now organising the actions.
The first three nightly rallies in the capital ended in violence, when police fired tear gas to disperse crowds that included bottle-throwing masked youths. The last such rally, overnight last night, passed off peacefully.
Marches and demonstrations have been organised across France this weekend but attention will turn Saturday to Paris where students returning from spring vacation are to be joined by unionists, militants and thousands of voters angry with Mr Le Pen's success at the expense of left-wing candidates.
President Chirac, speaking on state-run television late on Wednesday, called for those who will take part in the May 1st anti-Le Pen rally to remain calm.
"Be determined in rejecting the exteme right but in a dignified and reasonable way," he pleaded.
The chief Paris prosecutor, Mr Jean-Pierre Dintilhac, meanwhile called on judges to show "the greatest firmness" in dealing with anyone found guilty of violence during the wave of protests. Dozens of different demonstrations are due at the weekend in Paris alone.
Mr Le Pen, for his part, has dismissed the protestors as just "a handful" of opponents and describes himself as "the people's choice" to challenge President Chirac in the May 5th run-off.
Opinion polls show President Chirac should easily win a second term but that Le Pen's score will have ramifications for legislative elections due in June.
AFP