Silent, tense and barricaded, Orléans reveals a deeply divided France

Marine Le Pen launched her presidential campaign in Orléans on Sunday, positioning herself as the clear favorite to succeed President Emmanuel Macron in April. Speaking before approximately 8,500 supporters at a National Rally party congress, the far-right leader vowed to restore order, assert national sovereignty, and prioritize French citizens in access to public services. Her announcement came amid heightened tensions following weeks of nationwide protests and violent unrest, which polling data suggests has boosted her standing relative to rivals. While Le Pen leads the polls with support ranging from 33.5 percent to 38 percent depending on the survey, her closest competitor, far-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon, has also seen a surge in popularity, reaching 17 percent. The choice of Orléans was deliberate, referencing the city’s historical association with Joan of Arc, who lifted the English siege there in 1429. Le Pen adopted the warrior saint as a campaign symbol, selling merchandise featuring the iconography and describing the location as the starting point for a "great battle for France." She framed her platform under the theme of "renaissance," promising to return strength and prestige to the nation. During her speech, she pledged to re-establish the rule of law, counter what she described as punitive environmental regulations, and implement automatic and definitive deportation for foreigners convicted of crimes. She emphasized that the President of the Republic serves primarily as the guardian of French interests, stating that no foreign or supranational authority, including European bodies, could override constitutional decisions such as deportation orders. Security forces established a heavy perimeter around the conference venue, sealing off key crossings like the George V Bridge with barricades reinforced by metal buttresses. Authorities banned car traffic from the city center and suspended tram services, screening passengers arriving by train. Party members traveling by rail were instructed to disembark early and take buses to the venue to avoid the congested downtown area. Shops boarded up windows, and most bars and restaurants closed, leaving the usually vibrant Saturday night atmosphere damp and quiet. Hotels reported high cancellation rates, with some owners securing entrances with metal doors. Outside the secure zone, opposition to the far-right gathering was substantial. On Saturday, roughly 20,000 people protested against the congress in the city center. Over 10,000 demonstrators gathered near the venue as the conference commenced, chanting slogans against the National Rally. In Paris, a massive crowd of at least 110,000 people, according to government estimates, filled the inner ring road during a separate demonstration. Organizers claimed higher numbers. The Parisian protest was largely peaceful, though participants displayed signs critical of President Macron and the National Rally, with some chanting "All Cops Are Bastards." The political climate has been shaped by a wave of protests since mid-September, initially sparked by high school students in a Paris suburb. These demonstrations evolved into a nationwide mobilization driven by economic discontent. On October 17, the unrest escalated significantly, with shops looted and ransacked across multiple cities. More than 2,000 people were arrested that day, and the Ministry of Interior reported 1,314 detainees, 24 stores damaged, and 53 security personnel injured during subsequent clashes. A similar, albeit smaller, pattern of violence occurred the following weekend. This environment of instability has impacted the electoral landscape. Le Pen’s National Rally has attributed the violence to immigration and left-wing influences, arguing that the chaos validates their policy positions. Conversely, Mélenchon, whose La France Insoumise party aligns with parts of the protest movement, has accused police of provoking the violence. Recent Ipsos polling indicates that Le Pen holds 33.5 percent of the vote, while Mélenchon trails at 17 percent. Other surveys, including one by Ifop, place Le Pen between 34 and 38 percent in the first round, suggesting she would win in any second-round scenario. Right-wing voters largely blame Mélenchon’s faction for the disorder, while his supporters view the unrest as a justified reaction to government policies. Violence has also emerged from extremist elements outside the mainstream political spectrum. Media reports documented groups of far-right militants attacking protesters in several cities. Additionally, a shooting incident in a Paris suburb on Friday resulted in the death of one man and serious injuries to a 12-year-old girl; the attacker reportedly targeted Muslim and Black individuals. In response to the broader unrest, the National Rally has proposed lowering the age of criminal responsibility to 16, imposing financial penalties on rioters for repairs, and establishing collective liability for violence occurring during protests. Le Pen addressed the financial strain on the state, noting that France carries record levels of debt. She presented an alternative budget proposal to demonstrate fiscal credibility. The incumbent President Macron, barred from seeking another term, faces pressure from both the left and right as the government struggles to manage the social unrest. Further demonstrations are scheduled for the coming Saturday. As Le Pen concluded her address, she declared that the traditional major parties were fading, asserting that the current moment represented the end of an existing political order and the beginning of a new one led by her movement.