World · Europe · 2 hrs ago
Left-wing groups protest against RN congress in Orléans
Left-wing groups and unions marched against the RN congress in Orléans, France, on October 24.
The far-right party held its congress south of the Loire River, while the protest took place north of it.
Organizers said about 26,000 people attended, while the local prefecture put the crowd at half that size.
The march drew people from Orléans and elsewhere, but the crowd was smaller than organizers had hoped.
Authorities imposed heavy security, including searches of train passengers and identity checks on buses arriving from the Paris region.
Three buses carrying about 220 undocumented people were sent back to Paris after being stopped at a tollgate.
The march highlighted divisions among left-wing groups, even as concern about a racist attack in Trappes and calls to unite against the far right were on protesters’ minds.
Left-wing groups, trade unions and antifascist organizations marched in Orléans on October 24 against racism and the National Rally congress.
The protest took place as the far-right party held its congress on the other side of the Loire.
Organizers said around 26,000 people gathered, while the local prefecture estimated about half that number.
The march highlighted divisions among left-wing groups, despite calls to unite against the far right.
Heavy security measures were blamed for turnout falling short of expectations.
- Who
- Left-wing groups, trade unions and antifascist organizations marched; the RN held its congress.
- What
- A protest against racism and the RN congress took place in Orléans.
- When
- October 24, 2026.
- Where
- Orléans, France, on the north side of the Loire.
- Why
- Organizers called for a counter-protest against the RN and the far right, amid concerns about racism.
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- Protest date
- October 24, 2026
- Location
- Orléans, France
- Organizer estimate
- Around 26,000 people
- Prefecture estimate
- About half the organizers’ estimate
- Congress location
- South of the Loire