Tens of thousands of people were expected to take part in demonstrations in the French cities of Paris and Lyon on Sunday to defend their interpretation of traditional family values.

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The protests have been coordinated by the organisation “Manif Pour Tous” (or “Protest for Everyone”), which also led efforts to oppose the country’s legalisation of same-sex marriage and adoption last year.

While the government has yet to weigh in on the questions of medically assisted procreation (MAP) and in vitro fertilisation (IVF) for gay and lesbian couples, Manif Pour Tous has already homed in on the two issues as its next major battles.

Ludovine de la Rochère, who heads up Manif Pour Tous, said earlier this week that the demonstrations were an attempt to “warn the government as early as possible of our opposition to offering MAP to female couples and of IVF because a child needs a father and a mother".

The protests come just one week after several thousand people marched through the streets of Paris in a "Day of Anger" against President François Hollande’s socialist-led government. Many of those who took part in the demonstration criticised many of Hollande’s policies, including the legalisation of same-sex marriage.

Recent polls have shown that Hollande, who was elected in 2012, is the least popular French president of modern times.

(FRANCE 24 with AFP)

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