Clashes Erupt at French National Rally Convention Amid Nazi Salute Footage
Clashes erupted at a National Rally convention in Orléans on Sunday as Jewish student activists protesting alleged antisemitism were forcibly removed, with one participant filmed making a suspected Nazi salute.
A convention of France's National Rally party in Orléans was overshadowed by clashes on Sunday as Jewish student activists interrupted a speech by party leader Jordan Bardella. The protest reignited questions over the far-right party's efforts to shed its controversial image ahead of Marine Le Pen's anticipated presidential bid.
Four members of the Union of Jewish Students in France unfurled a banner reading, "Bardella re-elected: racism and antisemitism are no barrier to the National Rally, quite the opposite." Security guards forcefully removed the activists from the hall. The student union stated that its members were choked, attacked, and violently ejected, announcing plans to file a police complaint. Local media reported that one activist suffered a bloody nose during the altercation.
Parliamentary television network LCP broadcast footage showing a member of the audience performing a gesture resembling a Nazi salute during the removal of the protesters. A woman standing nearby was seen pulling his arm down. The party stated that if the gesture was a Nazi salute, it is entirely condemned, and confirmed that any party member involved would face disciplinary action. The incident unfolded against the backdrop of recent media reports alleging antisemitic writings by Bardella in 2013, which he denies.
Marine Le Pen addressed the gathering in Orléans, seeking to project an image of national unity and leadership amid public discontent over economic conditions and deteriorating public services. Citing historical resilience in the city where Joan of Arc broke the English siege in 1429, Le Pen appealed to voters beyond her traditional base, vowing to raise wages, strengthen social safety nets, and cut business taxes.
To broaden her appeal following defeats to Emmanuel Macron in the 2017 and 2018 runoff elections, Le Pen announced she would step down as parliamentary group leader to form a national unity government with Bardella as prime minister if elected. Recent polls suggest she commands around 33 percent support in the first round, though her campaign faces potential legal hurdles pending an appeal over a conviction regarding European Parliament funds.
