Massive Demonstrations in France

On Wednesday, France witnessed its biggest political demonstration in almost 20 years.

At least 1.3 million people took to the streets across the country.

The issue that's uniting them in their protest is the success of far-right leader Jean-Marie Le Pen. The head of France's Front National surprised everyone last week when he scored 17 percent in the first round of voting of the French presidential election. He is due to face incumbent President Jacques Chirac for the second and final round of voting on Sunday.

Never before have so many people taken to the streets of France to demonstrate against racism. Many organizations called on their members to join the protests. 400,000 turned out in Paris alone, urging people to vote next Sunday, and chanting slogans against Le Pen. "I'm opposed to fascism," said one demonstrator. "I believe in freedom, cultural diversity, and diversity in all things."

For the past week and a half, the city has seen similar street protests almost every day.

Le Pen unimpressed

But Jean-Marie Le Pen (photo) on Thursday dismissed the massive street protests against him. He said the only thing that counted in his bid to become the president of France was the result of the vote next Sunday.

"I listen to the voters, I do not listen to demonstrators," Le Pen said of the nationwide street protests.

Rightist rally

Four days before the final run-off in the country's presidential election, Le Pen himself also staged a demonstration in Paris. But far fewer than the 100,000 predicted turned out to chant slogans in support of Le Pen and his Front National. "Proud to be French" read one of their banners, "Throw Chirac into jail" and "Communists are murderers" others said.

Le Pen's supporters marched through Paris and held a rally at a monument to Joan of Arc. Le Pen placed a bouquet of white flowers at the base of the gilded statue.

The anti-immigrant Front National sees Joan of Arc as a symbol of French resistance against foreign invaders.

Minor clashes

Security was tight in the French capital all day Wednesday. Authorities had deliberately scheduled the rival marches several hours apart in an effort to prevent clashes between the two sides. Both demonstrations passed off without violence.

There were, however some minor violent incidents later in the night. Police attempting to disperse marchers clashed with both pro and anti Le Pen demonstrators. Protestors threw bottles and police said they arrested several people.

Decisive vote on Sunday

The question of who will be the next French president will be decided on Sunday, when the runoff between Le Pen and Jacques Chirac is held.

Public opinion researchers in France believe Chirac will beat Le Pen by a large margin. The French Socialists and other mainstream left-wing parties have called on their voters to back the conservative candidate Chirac in order to keep Le Pen and his National Front out of power.