Anti-racism organizations have teamed up with French unions and a newly formed left-wing coalition to protest across France against the rising nationalist far right amidst feverish election campaigns ahead of snap parliamentary elections.

On Saturday, approximately 21,000 police and gendarmes were mobilized, with authorities anticipating between 300,000 and 500,000 demonstrators nationwide, according to the French interior ministry.

In Paris, those worried about the possibility of France electing its first far-right government since World War II gathered at Place de la Republique before marching.

French citizens have been gathering on a daily basis ever since the anti-immigration National Rally (RN) achieved significant gains in the European Parliament elections last Sunday. This spurred President Macron to dissolve the National Assembly and call for a snap legislative election, scheduled to be held over two rounds on June 30 and July 7.

Despite rainy and windy conditions on Saturday, a large crowd assembled, holding signs that read “Liberty for all, Equality for all and Fraternity with all” – echoing France’s national motto – and “Let’s break frontiers, documents for all, no to the immigration bill.”

Speaking from Place de Republique, CGT union leader Sophie Binet said, “We are marching because we are very concerned that [RN’s leader] Jordan Bardella could become the next prime minister … We want to stop this disaster.”

‘Ideology based on fear’

Among the Parisian protesters, some shouted “Free Palestine, viva Palestina,” while wearing Palestinian keffiyeh scarves.

One protester, Nour Cekar, a 16-year-old student, whose parents are French and Algerian and who wears a hijab, said, “The extreme right poses a threat as it endorses an ideology based on fearing the other, even though we are all French citizens regardless of our differences.”

Cekar stated she intends to support the left-wing coalition as it is “the only political entity addressing racism and Islamophobia.”

Meanwhile, in Nice, a city on the French Riviera, demonstrators marched down Jean Medecin Avenue, chanting against the National Rally and its leader Bardella, as well as President Emmanuel Macron.

The organizers reported 3,000 participants, although police estimated 2,500.

Nice, traditionally conservative, has in recent years leaned towards Marine Le Pen’s National Rally and her far-right rival Eric Zemmour.

Nacira Guenif, a sociologist at University Paris 8, described the rise of the far right as a “very dangerous situation,” noting many young attendees denounced “the fascists.”

“This is more dangerous than ever. This is the first time the far right achieved 30 percent of the vote in the European elections. Today’s protests underscore that many do not want this to transpire in France,” Guenif told Al Jazeera.

Huge gamble for Macron

Reporting from Paris, Al Jazeera’s Natacha Butler noted that President Macron’s election announcement took everyone, including his ministers, by surprise.

“Macron claims he announced the election after hearing the voices of the voters, acknowledging their dissatisfaction with his policies following the EU election. He believes he is giving the power back to the people.”

But this move is a significant risk, Butler explained. “People fear the far right will destroy France’s values of rights, liberty, freedom, and equality.”

To prevent the National Rally from winning the upcoming elections, left-wing parties agreed on Friday to put aside differences regarding Gaza and Ukraine and form a coalition, urging French citizens to eliminate the far right.

French opinion polls indicate that the National Rally is expected to lead in the first round of the parliamentary elections, having secured over 30 percent of the vote in the recent European elections, nearly twice that of Macron’s party, Renaissance.

Although Macron’s term continues for another three years, with control over foreign affairs and defense remaining intact, his presidency would be weakened if the National Rally wins, potentially paving the way for Bardella to become the next prime minister with authority over domestic and economic issues.

French voters will head to the polls on June 30 and July 7.