May Day, May Day

There was a sense of urgency, even emergency, in many countries on May 1 this year. The goings-on in the UK were muted in comparison:

France
Presidential incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy staged a rally in front of the Eiffel Tower called ‘The Feast of Real Work’, to counter the traditional show of heft by the left. ‘Put down the red flag and serve France!’ he shouted to the unions. His campaign claims a turnout of 200,000.

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The left was irritated by Sarkozy’s hijack of their celebration, and his insinuation that they don’t understand what work is. The far right, led by a scornful Marine Le Pen fresh from rejecting an overture from Sarkozy, made their usual walk to the statue of Joan of Arc.

Cuba
Tens of thousands of workers marched through Havana’s Revolution Square, shouting ‘Socialism or death!’ and waving flags of Lenin and Che Guevera.