Thousands march in Geneva before G7 leaders meet in France
A No-G7 coalition rallied against the summit as security tightened around Evian-les-Bains, where Donald Trump and other leaders are due to gather.
By James Whitfield · Staff Writer
3 min read
Thousands of demonstrators marched in Geneva on Sunday ahead of a Group of Seven summit in nearby France, according to Al Jazeera and The Associated Press. The protest underscored anger at the club of wealthy countries as US President Donald Trump and other leaders prepared to meet in Evian-les-Bains.
The three-day summit is scheduled to begin Monday in the French resort town. Swiss and French authorities have put thousands of police in place, closed roads, barred unauthorised gatherings and promised financial help for businesses that may be affected by unrest, Al Jazeera and AP reported.
The Geneva march was organised by the “No-G7” coalition, which Al Jazeera and AP described as a grouping of more than 60 associations. The coalition includes Palestinian rights campaigners, feminist activists and environmental groups.
Francoise Nyffeler, a spokesperson for the coalition, said protesters feared the policies of Trump and other G7 leaders. “The planet is in danger, and we are very scared about it and we want to protest and say that the people of the world are against their policies,” she said, according to Al Jazeera and AP.
Al Jazeera correspondent Natacha Butler, reporting from Geneva, said demonstrators accused the G7 of serving the wealthy while worsening conditions for poorer people. She said protesters argued that the bloc does not represent the world’s population and that its decisions hurt efforts on climate, equality and poverty.
Security tightens around summit site
Businesses in Geneva and around the summit area have taken precautions, according to Al Jazeera and AP. Many shops boarded up their windows with wooden panels, with owners wary of the damage that followed a similar Evian summit in 2003.
Protests had been building before Sunday’s main march. Al Jazeera and AP reported that about 20 boats formed a flotilla on Lake Geneva off Evian on Saturday, carrying anti-G7 and pro-Palestinian banners.
Swiss media reported that about 20 protesters were detained on Friday evening, according to Al Jazeera and AP. Authorities have also restricted gatherings not cleared in advance as part of the security operation.
Debate over the G7’s role
The G7 comprises the United States, Canada, Japan, France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom. Al Jazeera and AP reported that questions over the bloc’s legitimacy have persisted as its share of global output has declined.
According to Al Jazeera and AP, G7 countries once accounted for 70 percent of global gross domestic product, compared with about 40 percent now, while representing one-tenth of the world’s population. The report contrasted that with the expansion of BRICS, a grouping that includes India, Russia and China and has grown from five members to 11.
G7 summits often draw demonstrations, Al Jazeera and AP reported. This year’s meeting is also taking place amid criticism of Trump’s positions on tariffs, the US-Israeli war on Iran and the climate crisis, according to Al Jazeera.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.