This mobilization comes as prefectural decrees prohibiting demonstrations and gatherings are increasing in several cities before the day of mobilization on October 24, while curfews are also extended in certain neighborhoods until Monday.
The procession brought together trade union activists from all over France, to which was added a younger audience who were more accustomed to the high school mobilizations of recent weeks.
At the Zénith d'Orléans, RN executives and activists oscillate between annoyance and indifference to this counter-demonstration.
By not leaving their city and its figures to the far right, the demonstrators seem to want to reappropriate national symbols.
20,000 to 30,000 opponents of the party were initially expected in Orléans on Saturday.
Another voice indicated: “I will not go to a perfectly legitimate demonstration against a congress of another political party which has a candidacy for the presidency of the Republic.” Other opponents affirmed that “the extreme right is a danger for the Republic”.
13,000 demonstrators according to the prefecture and 26,000 according to the organizers: Orléans had not seen this since the pension reform of 2023.