Paris, (EFE) – Tens of thousands of people demonstrated on Sunday across France against a disputed immigration law, four days before the Constitutional Council announced its decision on the validity of the rule.
164 marches were called across the country to protest what organizers consider “a dangerous turning point in the history of our republic,” according to the statement, the call signed by 201 figures from various areas of public life.
75,000 demonstrators and familiar faces
The Interior Ministry counted 75,000 protesters across the country, while the CGT, the country's second-largest union, numbered 150,000.
In Paris, participants – 16,000 people according to the police prefecture – walked between two emblematic places, the Trocadero square and the massive Invalides complex.
Among the participants were figures from art and politics, such as the head of the Socialist Party, Olivier Faure, the Communist Party, Fabien Roussel, and others.
The decision is scheduled to be made next Thursday
The Constitutional Council intends to issue its decision next Thursday on the constitutionality of the law, which was approved last December by a vote in favor of the far-right National Rally party led by Marine Le Pen.
The law, approved by both houses of parliament in mid-December, includes conservative-inspired measures because the government does not have a majority in the legislature and needs the support of the traditional right.
New measures
These measures include tightening social benefits, recovering crimes of irregular residence, or tightening family reunification.
On December 22, left-wing and environmental parties submitted an appeal to the Constitutional Council, arguing that up to 24 articles of the law violate the French constitution.
“Award-winning alcohol trailblazer. Hipster-friendly internetaholic. Twitter ninja. Infuriatingly humble beer lover. Pop culture nerd.”