THE annual Fete de l’Humanite opened yesterday in the town of Bretigny just outside Paris.

The festival, created in 1930 to celebrate working-class solidarity, is organised by the French daily newspaper L’Humanite and is the largest popular gathering in France.

People have attended the festival from all over France and from further afield. 

Attending for the first time Soleymane Bah, from near Bretigny, said: “All my friends come each year and I wanted to be part of an event which is very famous across France.

Mr Bah added: “I’m also really looking forward to the music this weekend!”

Charles from Paris said: “I’m a Marxist and was in the French Communist Party in the ’60s and was pleased to be able to support [Fabien] Rousell [the Communist Party candidate] in the presidential election.

“This is a great chance for young people who don’t know enough about communism to learn more. We need to do much more to popularise communism and this festival is a big part of that.”

Patricia, also from near the festival site, said: “This is my first time because it was too far for me at the previous venue.

“I like the chance to exchange ideas and to meet new people.”

Luc from Versailles told the Star it was also his first time at the festival. He said: “I’m really looking forward to the debates and to hearing Fabien Rousell this weekend.”

Pierre from Normandy said this was a great opportunity to “bring people together and to help build a stronger movement.”

Kate, who travelled to the festival from Oxford, said: “It’s great to see the women of the left being recognised such as Angela Davis, Josephine Baker and Nina Simone to name but a few.”