The key facts
- A mass action against the National Rally congress took place in Orleans; authorities expected between 20,000 and 30,000 participants
- The congress will conclude on Sunday with the launch of Marine Le Pen's campaign for the 2027 elections; Jordan Bardella is expected to retain the party leadership
- Nearly 3,000 security personnel, armored vehicles, helicopters and drones were deployed in the city; a nighttime curfew was imposed for children under 15
Protest in Orleans
On Saturday, thousands of people took to the streets of Orleans, France, in a demonstration against the National Rally, whose party is holding its national congress in the city ahead of the launch of Marine Le Pen's presidential campaign. The action was supported by about 50 political parties, trade unions and associations, which described its purpose as a protest against racism, fascism and imperialism.Authorities expected between 20,000 and 30,000 participants. The march was attended by Saint-Denis mayor Mathilde Hanotin from La France Insoumise, Socialist Party leader Olivier Faure and CGT union head Sophie Binet.
Background and security measures
The demonstration comes amid heightened tension in France following a deadly attack in Trappes, west of Paris, on Friday, in which one person was killed and five were injured. According to authorities, a possible racist motive for the attack is being investigated; Bagayoko linked it to the spread of inflammatory rhetoric, particularly on social media. To prevent clashes in Orleans, authorities deployed nearly 3,000 police officers and gendarmes, armored vehicles, helicopters and drones; some shops boarded up their windows and public transport was suspended. The city's mayor, Serge Grouard, imposed a nighttime curfew for children under 15 over the weekend.
The congress and Le Pen's campaign
The National Rally expects thousands of supporters at the two-day congress, where the party's chairman, Jordan Bardella, is expected to be re-elected as leader. On Sunday, the congress will conclude with a large rally marking the start of Le Pen's campaign for the 2027 presidential election; according to the organizers' plan, the event is meant to demonstrate the party's strength. L'Express journalist Marilu Magnal and Rapporteur's journalist Elise Brown reported that at the entrance, female journalists were checked to see whether they were wearing a bra— according to security, in order to prevent FEMEN activists from getting in. The actions are taking place over a weekend of nationwide protests over the cost of living, public services and government policy, with security forces on heightened alert after recent unrest.
Significance of the event
The event is significant because the congress officially opens Le Pen's campaign for the 2027 elections, while the scale of the protest — around 50 organizations supporting it — shows the level of political confrontation surrounding the party. For the residents of Orleans, the practical consequences are already tangible: increased policing, suspended transport and a nighttime curfew for children under 15. The outcome of the investigation into the Trappes attack and the authorities' response to accusations against the party will remain key factors in further tensions.
