French media protest manhandling of journalists at far-right party rally

The meeting in Orléans on 24-25 October was the first big campaign rally by Le Pen, who is currently leading the polls to succeed President Emmanuel Macron in elections next spring.

Several journalists have reported being prevented from documenting the proceedings, forced from the premises and insulted.  

"Marine Le Pen used this congress as a launchpad for her presidential campaign. It is unacceptable for journalists to be forcibly removed and mistreated," media groups wrote in an open letter published on Tuesday.

Forty-four outlets signed the statement, including RFI and its sister station France 24 as well as newspapers Le Monde and Le Figaro, news channels BFMTV and LCI, investigative site Mediapart and news agency AFP.

"In a state governed by the rule of law, political parties – of all stripes – must allow the press, which serves all citizens, to access their events without hindering its work or resorting to rough treatment," the letter said.

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Mediapart team targeted

Coinciding with another day of nationwide protests about the cost of living, the RN congress was held amid tight security.

Thousands of people yelling anti-fascist slogans marched in Orléans on Saturday in protest.

While Le Pen has raised concerns for months about possible violence from her opponents, journalists have accused both RN activists and the party's own security personnel of attempting to intimidate them.

Shortly before the congress opened, a video crew from investigative media outlet Mediapart was confronted by party activists and subsequently jeered by the crowd, who chanted: "Mediapart, get out!"

The team was then forcibly escorted from the venue by the RN's security staff. Two reporters allege that they were pinned against a wall, while others said they were grabbed by the collar or around the waist.

According to the joint letter, the RN's press team subsequently intervened and apologised to the reporters, who were allowed to return to the event.

Mediapart has come under fire from members and supporters of the RN following its revelations in late September about alleged antisemitic writings by party president Jordan Bardella during his youth.

Bardella firmly denies being the author, though Mediapart claims to have authenticated the messages and has published digital evidence linking them to him.

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Racist remark, pat-downs

On Sunday, after a protest organised by the Union of Jewish Students in France (UEJF) disrupted a speech by Bardella, plainclothes police officers and security staff roughly removed the activists, as well as a Mediapart journalist who was filming the scene.

The journalist said he overheard a woman in the audience telling him to "go back to your country".

A reporter for Politis, a left-wing magazine, was also removed as he filmed the same protest. He said that members of the audience knocked his phone from his hand and threatened to smash it.

According to several female reporters, security staff also conducted unusual pat-downs of some women journalists to check whether they were wearing bras or might be protesters from feminist group Femen prepared to bare their chests painted with slogans.

In early October, journalist associations from nearly 40 news outlets, including RFI and France 24, had already denounced "death threats" made by the RN against Mediapart.

It followed remarks by Le Pen in which she suggested that the outlet's journalists should wear "a Kevlar suit" – a reference to the material used in bulletproof vests.

(with AFP)