05
Apr 2025
9:04 UTC
France Tactical: Far-right RN party protest, counter-protests to take place in Paris on April 6; avoid nonessential travel
Current Situation
- On April 6, the far-right populist Rassemblement National (RN) party will hold a demonstration in support of Marine Le Pen at Place Vauban in the 7th arrondissement of Paris at 15:00 (local time).
- The protest has been organized in response to the conviction of Marine Le Pen in the first instance for embezzlement of European public funds on March 31. Marine Le Pen will speak at the event, alongside Jordan Bardella, president of the RN. Other confirmed speakers include Eric Ciotti, the leader of the right-wing nationalist Union des Democrates pour la Republique (UDR), and Louis Aliot, Mayor of Perpignan and vice-president of the RN, who was also convicted for misuse of public funds.
Source: X/Twitter
- In response, multiple counter-protests against the RN and in defense of the judiciary have been organized across Paris on April 6. Details of which are given below:
- Activists associated with multiple political parties and trade unions, including the left-wing La France Insoumise (LFI) and environmentalist Les Ecologistes (EELV), will organize a counter-demonstration at Place de la Republique at 13:00.
- Additionally, reports suggest that multiple pro-Palestinian groups have announced a gathering at Place de la Republique from 15:00 on the same day.
- The protest aims to denounce the RN and defend the integrity of French democratic institutions.
Source: X/Twitter
- Additionally, another counter-protest will be held at Place Salvador Allende in the 7th arrondissement from 14:30.
- This non-partisan protest will denounce what organizers call the “illiberal drift” of Marine Le Pen, Jordan Bardella, and the RN. The demonstration is being held in defense of the French judiciary following the conviction of 24 individuals, including Marine Le Pen, for systematic embezzlement of public funds.
Source: X/Twitter
- Separately, multiple centrist parties, including liberal-centrist Renaissance, center-right Horizon, and centrist-democratic Mouvement Democrate (MoDem), are holding an indoor political meeting at the Cite du Cinema in Saint-Denis, starting at 15:30.
- Former PM Gabriel Attal, former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, and incumbent PM Francois Bayrou will reportedly speak at this meeting.
- This meeting is organized to denounce what organizers describe as the growing threat of democratic backsliding in France and to oppose the political rhetoric of the RN following Marine Le Pen’s conviction.
Source: Ouest.France
Assessments & Forecast
- Judging by the widespread social media traction and organizational capability of the RN party, the protest at Place Vauban is expected to attract turnout ranging from the low to mid tens of thousands. Additionally, the counter-protests are expected to gather turnouts in the range of low thousands to low tens of thousands each, with the protest at Place de la Republique likely attracting larger numbers. Furthermore, spontaneous protests both in support of and opposed to the RN are likely to occur nationwide.
- Therefore, a bolstered security presence, including riot protests, is liable to be deployed in the vicinity of the aforementioned protest locations as well as throughout central Paris as a precautionary measure.
- Given heightened political tensions over Le Pen’s conviction, coupled with slated counter-protests, the RN demonstration carries a heightened risk of unrest. Given precedent, instances of unrest are likely to manifest as clashes between rival protesters or between protesters and police, particularly if left-wing or anti-fascist demonstrators attempt to confront RN supporters directly or breach police perimeters around Place Vauban. Should such confrontations occur, police will respond swiftly with forcible dispersal methods, including tear gas, water cannons, baton charges, and targeted arrests.
- Moreover, protesters may also throw projectiles, including bottles, stones, and incendiary devices, at police or rival demonstrators, increasing the risk of widespread unrest. The potential for vandalism and other forms of property damage, especially around protest areas and nearby government buildings, remains.
- Moreover, despite the centrist parties holding an indoor event at Cite du Cinema in Saint-Denis, the risk of spontaneous protests and counter-protests, carrying elevated risk of unrest, in the vicinity of the event venue remains elevated
- Consequently, significant disruptions to pedestrian and vehicular movement can be anticipated throughout central Paris, particularly around Place Vauban, Place de la Republique, Place Salvador Allende, and connecting routes from the early afternoon onwards. Authorities will likely implement temporary road closures and scheduled changes to public transportation in affected areas.
Recommendations
- Those operating or residing in Paris on April 6 are advised to avoid nonessential travel in the vicinity of Place Vauban, Place de la Republique, and Place Salvador Allende due to the heightened risk of violent unrest at the slated political protests.
- Maintain heightened vigilance near Cite du Cinema in Saint-Denis due to the risk of unrest at the slated centrist political gathering.
- Allot for significant disruptions to pedestrian and vehicular travel near the protest locations from the noon hours onwards.
COUNTRY RISK LEVEL
Low
AFFECTED AREA
Paris, France
INCIDENT RISK LEVEL
High
STRENGTH OF SOURCE
Credible
Current Situation
- On April 6, the far-right populist Rassemblement National (RN) party will hold a demonstration in support of Marine Le Pen at Place Vauban in the 7th arrondissement of Paris at 15:00 (local time).
- The protest has been organized in response to the conviction of Marine Le Pen in the first instance for embezzlement of European public funds on March 31. Marine Le Pen will speak at the event, alongside Jordan Bardella, president of the RN. Other confirmed speakers include Eric Ciotti, the leader of the right-wing nationalist Union des Democrates pour la Republique (UDR), and Louis Aliot, Mayor of Perpignan and vice-president of the RN, who was also convicted for misuse of public funds.
Source: X/Twitter
- In response, multiple counter-protests against the RN and in defense of the judiciary have been organized across Paris on April 6. Details of which are given below:
- Activists associated with multiple political parties and trade unions, including the left-wing La France Insoumise (LFI) and environmentalist Les Ecologistes (EELV), will organize a counter-demonstration at Place de la Republique at 13:00.
- Additionally, reports suggest that multiple pro-Palestinian groups have announced a gathering at Place de la Republique from 15:00 on the same day.
- The protest aims to denounce the RN and defend the integrity of French democratic institutions.
Source: X/Twitter
- Additionally, another counter-protest will be held at Place Salvador Allende in the 7th arrondissement from 14:30.
- This non-partisan protest will denounce what organizers call the “illiberal drift” of Marine Le Pen, Jordan Bardella, and the RN. The demonstration is being held in defense of the French judiciary following the conviction of 24 individuals, including Marine Le Pen, for systematic embezzlement of public funds.
Source: X/Twitter
- Separately, multiple centrist parties, including liberal-centrist Renaissance, center-right Horizon, and centrist-democratic Mouvement Democrate (MoDem), are holding an indoor political meeting at the Cite du Cinema in Saint-Denis, starting at 15:30.
- Former PM Gabriel Attal, former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, and incumbent PM Francois Bayrou will reportedly speak at this meeting.
- This meeting is organized to denounce what organizers describe as the growing threat of democratic backsliding in France and to oppose the political rhetoric of the RN following Marine Le Pen’s conviction.
Source: Ouest.France
Assessments & Forecast
- Judging by the widespread social media traction and organizational capability of the RN party, the protest at Place Vauban is expected to attract turnout ranging from the low to mid tens of thousands. Additionally, the counter-protests are expected to gather turnouts in the range of low thousands to low tens of thousands each, with the protest at Place de la Republique likely attracting larger numbers. Furthermore, spontaneous protests both in support of and opposed to the RN are likely to occur nationwide.
- Therefore, a bolstered security presence, including riot protests, is liable to be deployed in the vicinity of the aforementioned protest locations as well as throughout central Paris as a precautionary measure.
- Given heightened political tensions over Le Pen’s conviction, coupled with slated counter-protests, the RN demonstration carries a heightened risk of unrest. Given precedent, instances of unrest are likely to manifest as clashes between rival protesters or between protesters and police, particularly if left-wing or anti-fascist demonstrators attempt to confront RN supporters directly or breach police perimeters around Place Vauban. Should such confrontations occur, police will respond swiftly with forcible dispersal methods, including tear gas, water cannons, baton charges, and targeted arrests.
- Moreover, protesters may also throw projectiles, including bottles, stones, and incendiary devices, at police or rival demonstrators, increasing the risk of widespread unrest. The potential for vandalism and other forms of property damage, especially around protest areas and nearby government buildings, remains.
- Moreover, despite the centrist parties holding an indoor event at Cite du Cinema in Saint-Denis, the risk of spontaneous protests and counter-protests, carrying elevated risk of unrest, in the vicinity of the event venue remains elevated
- Consequently, significant disruptions to pedestrian and vehicular movement can be anticipated throughout central Paris, particularly around Place Vauban, Place de la Republique, Place Salvador Allende, and connecting routes from the early afternoon onwards. Authorities will likely implement temporary road closures and scheduled changes to public transportation in affected areas.
Recommendations
- Those operating or residing in Paris on April 6 are advised to avoid nonessential travel in the vicinity of Place Vauban, Place de la Republique, and Place Salvador Allende due to the heightened risk of violent unrest at the slated political protests.
- Maintain heightened vigilance near Cite du Cinema in Saint-Denis due to the risk of unrest at the slated centrist political gathering.
- Allot for significant disruptions to pedestrian and vehicular travel near the protest locations from the noon hours onwards.
COUNTRY RISK LEVEL
Low
AFFECTED AREA
Paris, France
INCIDENT RISK LEVEL
High
STRENGTH OF SOURCE
Credible
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Related Reports
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ProtestFrance Tactical: Pro-Palestinian protest ongoing at Boulevard Saint-Michel in Paris as of evening hours (local time) on April 12; maintain heightened vigilance
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TravelFrance Tactical: Marathon event to take place from Avenue des Champs-Elysees in Paris at 08:00 (local time) on April 13; maintain heightened vigilance
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ProtestFrance Tactical: Protest to defend the rule of law slated in Paris on April 12; maintain heightened vigilance
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