World News for Students of English

28-04-2022 15:00

Demonstrators took to the streets in Paris and Lyon to protest against French president Emmanuel Macron’s election win over his far-right rival Marine Le Pen.

Violent clashes between protestors happened in the French capital. They had gathered in Place de la République Square, and police responded with firing tear gas to disperse the crowds.

In the city of Lyon, protesters threw fireworks at police cars. Macron’s supporters celebrated at the Eiffel Tower, while Le Pen’s supporters reacted in dismay. The French leader became the first person to be re-elected in 20 years.

Macron defeated Le Pen in a run-off vote, and he won a second five-year term that prevented him from a major political changes. Although Macron won by a comfortable margin, the abstention rate was the highest since 1969, since a large number of voters were unwilling to vote for either candidate.

Difficult words: dismay (a feeling of shock and unhappiness), run-off (a final election, race, or contest), abstention (not voting in favor or against someone or something).

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