French authorities deploy heavy security for Rassemblement National congress in Orleans

French security forces implemented tight restrictions in Orléans as the Rassemblement National held its party congress at the CO’Met Arena. Authorities deployed nearly 3,000 law enforcement officers, authorized aerial drone surveillance, and imposed an overnight curfew for minors under 15 to manage an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 counter-demonstrators.

The heightened security posture follows nationwide protests on 24 October that resulted in 1,314 arrests and 53 injuries among law enforcement personnel across France, including 126 individuals detained in Paris. To prevent clashes during party leader Marine Le Pen's address, the Loiret prefectural authority issued a blanket ban on unapproved public gatherings across Orléans, warning that any attempts to incite violence would face an immediate response.

Sources: La Tribune, Le Figaro, Le Monde, Libération.