It's a shame this is happening. But these demonstrators are typical of why guys like Le Pen get into power. They keep electing fringe left buttholes so eventually the remaining conservatives get so sick of being marginalized that they go out and vote for the most rabidly right conservative they can find. Almost a death blow really. Either they connect and the socialists back off or facism (either left or right) takes root.
The left is not the fringe in Europe. It's the rule! There is a sense of entitlement no matter the economy is in a shambles, everyone's lifestyle is down the tubes and no segment of their economy or their institutions is run properly. No matter, give me more entitlements or I'll strike and that's what they do. Shut down the country, the farmers throw food into the roadway, the trucks shut down the highways, and everyone goes on strike.
Look at what happened in Italy, Berlusconi wanted to be able to fire government workers........the entire country went on strike. Every week a new reason to strike. Nothing changes, or very very very little changes......the sheeple are like lemmings and will go over the cliff before they are willing to change or even listen to reason.
Schroeder, to his credit did get some reforms in place but the pace is one step forward, three steps backward. We won't see a prosperous Europe in our lifetime.