At a May Day rally in Germany, the head of the country’s Confederation of Trade Unions had a stark warning for the government.

Michael Sommer said: “I have always said and I will continue to say it that if the lessons of the crisis are not learnt, there will be social tensions and there might be unrest. I do not want this, but I want to warn that everything should be done to cope with this crisis.” Hundreds of thousands have taken part in rallies in numerous cities, with the government’s handling of the economic crisis under the spotlight. There have been clashes at a protest in Berlin, with left-wing activists attempting to prevent a march by far-right groups. Demonstrations also turned violent on Thursday night, with clashes between police and protesters.

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