# Thousands Protest National Rally Congress in Orléans, France

> Anti-fascist demonstrators targeted Marine Le Pen's party congress and President Emmanuel Macron in Orléans, while nationwide protests continued over the cost of living.

By PrimaryBrief newsroom · Published 2026-10-24T17:36:21.683901Z
Canonical: https://primarybrief.com/article/thousands-protest-national-rally-congress-in-orl-ans-france-47ecea1d

Thousands of anti-fascist protesters marched in Orléans, France, on October 24, 2026, against the National Rally (RN) congress and its leader, Marine Le Pen, with police estimating 11,000 participants and organizers claiming 26,000 [4][7][9]. The demonstrations also targeted President Emmanuel Macron and occurred amidst broader nationwide protests across France concerning the cost of living [3][6].

These protests show deep political divisions and public discontent ahead of Marine Le Pen's planned presidential campaign launch on October 25, 2026 [1][3][8]. The events illustrate tensions between the far-right, the centrist government, and a populace grappling with economic pressures [3][6].

## What the records show

On October 24, 2026, thousands of protesters took to the streets of Orléans to voice opposition to the National Rally congress [2][3]. Demonstrators carried banners, including one that read, "All united against fascism. For the popular rally and social progress" [2]. Slogans chanted by the marchers included "Macron resign. Le Pen in prison" [4]. Left-wing party leaders, such as Socialist Party First Secretary Olivier Faure, joined the demonstration [7][17]. Police put the number of marchers at 11,000, while organizers said 26,000 took part [4][7][19]. The march in Orléans was described as peaceful [19].

The protests in Orléans coincided with new nationwide demonstrations over the cost of living, a week after similar rallies had escalated into street violence [3][6]. In response, the French government deployed approximately 70,000 police officers nationwide, supported by helicopters, armored vehicles, and water cannons [2][11]. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez stated that, as of Saturday evening, no major incidents had occurred across the country, distinguishing these protests from the previous week's unrest that saw looting and damage to approximately 3,000 shops [10]. As a preventive measure in Orléans, Mayor Serge Grouard implemented a two-night curfew for minors under 15 years old, effective from 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday [5][12][13]. The mayor's office stated this measure aimed to prevent public disorder and reduce the risk of unrest [13].

## The timeline

On October 24 and 25, 2026, the National Rally held its congress in Orléans [3][8]. Marine Le Pen, leader of the National Rally, was scheduled to launch her presidential campaign at a party congress on October 25 [1][8]. The protests against the RN congress and Marine Le Pen took place on October 24 [2][3]. Mayor Serge Grouard announced the two-night curfew for minors under 15 in Orléans on Saturday, October 24, to last through Sunday [5][12].

## What changed and for whom

During the National Rally's congress in Orléans on October 24, Jordan Bardella was re-elected as the party's president [15][16][18]. He ran unopposed and secured an overwhelming majority, receiving 75,497 votes, which accounted for 98.98% of the eligible votes [15][19]. This re-election was viewed as a formality intended to show the party's unity six months before the presidential election [19]. Bardella reiterated his support for Marine Le Pen, who serves as the National Rally's parliamentary leader and presidential candidate [15].

## What the subject has said publicly

Prior to the congress, Marine Le Pen addressed the issue of urban violence in a video address on October 18, 2026 [8]. She described the situation as a "deep crisis of confidence and authority" and accused the government of having "lost control of everything" [8]. Following his re-election, Jordan Bardella reaffirmed his backing for Marine Le Pen [15].

## What we could not confirm

We could not confirm the specific outcomes or resolutions of the broader nationwide protests regarding the cost of living. We also could not confirm if the declared curfews or police deployments extended beyond the immediate weekend of October 24-25, 2026.

## Evidence cited
1. (October 22 2026) Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right Rassemblement National (RN), is the frontrunner in next year's French presidential election. Although she has made her party more acceptable to voters at home, its voting record in the European Parliament suggests that EU policymakers should not expect moderation. French far-right leader Marine Le Pen will launch her presidential campaign at a party congress on 25 October. With six months to go before the two-round election, on 18 April an (epc.eu) — https://epc.eu/
2. (October 24 2026) Thousands marching in Orléans, vow to be 'united against fascism' as National Rally holds convention. ... Thousands of people are currently marching in the city of Orléans, south of Paris, on Saturday as Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally party is holding a political convention. Demonstrators were seen carrying a banner that read, "All united against fascism. For the popular rally and social progress," as they made their way through the city's streets, according to The As (foxnews.com) — https://foxnews.com/
3. (October 24 2026) Thousands of anti-fascist protesters took to the streets of Orléans on Saturday to demonstrate against a congress held by Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally party. Marchers criticised both Le Pen and President Emmanuel Macron, chanting slogans and carrying banners opposing the far right. The protest came amid renewed nationwide demonstrations over the cost of living, a week after rallies descended into street violence. The two-day congress also marked a major campaign eve (inbox.lv) — https://inbox.lv/
4. (October 24 2026) Protest march under way in Orléans Demonstrators are on the move in Orléans, where Marine Le Pen's National Rally party is holding its congress. Thousands of people are marching, Agence France-Presse reports, shouting anti-fascist slogans and calling for Le Pen to be imprisoned, and for the French president, Emmanuel Macron, to resign. Police put the number of marchers at 11,000, while organisers said 26,000 took part. ... The Guardian's Paris correspondent, Angelique Chrisafis (theguardian.com) — https://theguardian.com/
5. (October 24 2026) Mayor of the French city of Orléans Serge Grouard has announced a curfew for children under the age of 15 ahead of the congress of the far-right National Rally party. The restrictions will apply throughout the municipality on Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. local time, Anadolu Agency reports. (ua.news) — https://ua.news/
6. (October 24 2026) The protest -- held on a day of fresh nationwide demonstrations over the cost of living after ones a week ago that devolved into street violence -- criticised both Le Pen and centrist President Emmanuel Macron. By Channels Television. Updated October 24, 2026. Add us to your Google feed. Protesters take part in a demonstration “against racism, fascism and imperialism” on the sidelines of the Congress of the Far-right party Rassemblement National (RN) in Orleans, central France  (channelstv.com) — https://channelstv.com/
7. (October 24 2026) Thousands of people protested Saturday against the far-right National Rally party's congress in Orleans, France, as the city's mayor imposed a two-night curfew on minors amid concerns over unrest, French broadcaster BFMTV reported. The prefecture counted 11,000 demonstrators by noon, while organizers put the turnout at 26,000. Socialist Party First Secretary Olivier Faure joined the demonstration, saying the march aimed to remind the public of the far-right party's political re (aa.com.tr) — https://aa.com.tr/
8. (October 22 2026) In a video address on 18 October, Le Pen said the urban violence amounted to a “deep crisis of confidence and authority” and accused the government of having "lost control of everything". The congress is expected to attract 5,000 people on Saturday and 10,000 on Sunday. Sizeable counter-demonstrations are also planned. Around 50 organisations have called for a protest against “racism, fascism and imperialism”, scheduled to begin at 10.30am on Saturday, starting outside the city (modernghana.com) — https://modernghana.com/
9. (October 24 2026) "What's at Stake Is the Upcoming Political Campaign": How Orléans Prepares for October 24. The weekend will take place in Orléans (Loiret), with the Congress of the National Rally (RN). Between 20,000 and 30,000 protestors opposed to the RN are expected. TF1info gives an update on the planned arrangements. - "What is being played is a little bit the forthcoming political campaign" : how Orléans prepares for October 24 (Politics). (ground.news) — https://ground.news/
10. (October 24 2026) ... demonstration in Paris, France on October 24, 2026. Hannah McKay / Reuters. Some confrontations were reported between authorities and demonstrators in several cities, but as of Saturday evening there had been no repeat of the major street violence and rioting that erupted amid similar protests last week. About 3,000 shops were looted or damaged last weekend, CBS News previously reported. Nuñez previously said that French authorities were preparing to maintain order this wee (cbsnews.com) — https://cbsnews.com/
11. (October 24 2026) The protesters were marching over school funding and soaring living costs, challenging President Emmanuel Macron's government as police fired tear gas and water cannons near the end of the protest. Police used tear gas in several cities, including Lyon, Clermont-Ferrand, and Strasbourg, and water cannons in Nice and Nantes, French media reported. In Marseille, officers fired tear gas during clashes with several dozens of people near the march's endpoint. The Paris prosecutor's  (latimes.com) — https://latimes.com/
12. (October 24 2026) 24 October, 2026; 17:39. French city of Orleans imposes curfew on minors. Add Report.az to preferred Google sources. Stay up to date with the top news! Subscribe. The mayor of the French city of Orleans on Saturday announced a two-night curfew for children under 15 amid planned protests against the far-right National Rally party's congress, Report informs referring to the Anadolu Agency. Mayor Serge Grouard said the curfew would apply across the entire municipality from 9 pm lo (report.az) — https://report.az/
13. (October 24 2026) A coalition of Yellow Vests protesters, trade unions and students is set to hold demonstrations across France on Saturday, calling for improvements to education conditions and greater purchasing power. Some 70,000 police are expected to be deployed as authorities fear looting and vandalism similar to last Saturday's unrest, France24 reported. 24 Oct 2026 - 15:03 (15:03 GMT). Orleans imposes curfew on under-15s ahead of RN congress. The mayor of Orléans, France, announced a two- (news.az) — https://news.az/
14. (October 24 2026) French city imposes curfew on children under 15 ahead of far-right protests - Latest News from Saudi Arabia and the World. (saudigazette.com.sa) — https://saudigazette.com.sa/
15. (October 24 2026) The French far-right party National Rally re-elected Jordan Bardella as its president at the party's congress in Orleans, with an overwhelming majority, as the incumbent ran unopposed. Bardella won 75,497 votes, or 98.98% of the eligible votes, while 779 ballots were handed in blank, according to the French Parliament member Yoann Gillet. Amid his re-election, the party's president reiterated his support for National Rally parliamentary leader and presidential candidate Marine  (breakingthenews.net) — https://breakingthenews.net/
16. (October 24 2026) Jordan Bardella, the protégé of French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen, has been reelected as leader of the far-right Rassemblement National (RN). The party announced this on the platform X during its national convention in Orléans, south of Paris. The convention was marred by protests. ... According to French media, Bardella received about 99 percent of the vote, with a voter turnout of nearly 68 percent. The result comes as no surprise: The 31-year-old was the only candi (bluewin.ch) — https://bluewin.ch/
17. (October 24 2026) The demonstration brought together a broad coalition including left-wing party leaders, trade unions, student groups, activists, and non-governmental organisations such as Amnesty International, according to France24. Jordan Bardella was re-elected on Saturday as president of the National Rally (Rassemblement National) during the congress in Orléans. The gathering kicked off shortly before 3 PM at the Zénith arena in the Loiret prefecture, where thousands of party delegates and (aninews.in) — https://aninews.in/
18. (October 24 2026) Jordan Bardella was re-elected on Saturday as president of the National Rally (Rassemblement National) during the congress in Orleans. The gathering kicked off shortly before 3 PM at the Zenith arena in the Loiret prefecture, where thousands of party delegates and activists gathered to show their support, chanting 'Marine for President,' France 24 reported. Several peaceful protests are underway across France, as thousands of demonstrators march in the cities of Marseille, Lyon (bignewsnetwork.com) — https://bignewsnetwork.com/
19. (October 24 2026) This re-election, a mere formality, is meant to allow the far-right party to showcase its unity six months before the presidential election. Jordan Bardella has been overwhelmingly re-elected leader of France's National Rally (RN), securing 98.98% of the vote in an uncontested leadership election. ADVERTISEMENT. ADVERTISEMENT. The result was announced on Saturday, the opening day of the party's two-day congress in Orléans, as the RN seeks to consolidate its position ahead of th (euronews.com) — https://euronews.com/