ORLEANS, France: Thousands of people yelling anti-fascist slogans marched in the French city of Orleans Saturday against a congress by far-right leader Marine Le Pen’s National Rally (RN) party there, AFP journalists saw.
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.
“Macron resign. Le Pen in prison,” the crowd yelled, while carrying placards that read “The Youth say ‘screw you’ to the National Rally” and “Hotter than fascists”.
The two-day RN congress in Orleans was the first big party campaign rally by Le Pen, whom surveys put as the leading candidate to succeed Macron in presidential elections in six months’ time.